Preview: Ranji Trophy 2012-13 Final

First Published : 25 Jan 2013, 14:44
Last Modified : 25 Jan 2013, 16:30

By: Shirin Sadikot in Mumbai

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What

Ranji Trophy 2012-13 final

When

January 26-30, 2013

Where

Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

The Teams

Mumbai

Mumbai’s road to the final has been based heavily on securing a first-innings lead. Seven out of their eight Group Stage matches ended in draws, and Mumbai secured three first-innings lead points in five of them. In fact, they also booked a spot in the final by virtue of a first-innings lead in their drawn quarter and semi-finals. Mumbai’s sole victory in the tournament so far, came against Madhya Pradesh.

While the focus on scoring a run more than the opposition in the first innings of the match has worked for them thus far, the 39-time Ranji Trophy champions will have to find a way to take 20 Saurashtra wickets this time around. Playing in their own backyard, in conditions well-known to them, will be a massive advantage for Mumbai in their endeavour to do so.

Saurashtra

Saurashtra have emerged as the dark horse this season and have made their first Ranji Trophy final in 75 years. Their journey to the final has been a tale of teamwork and belief. Although they won no more than two matches in the Group Stage, their thumping semi-final win over an in-form Punjab team showed what they are capable of. Having lost to the table-toppers in the Group Stage, Saurashtra exacted their revenge when it most mattered and thrashed Punjab by 229 runs in the semi-final. To top it, they did it without the services of their two star batsmen – Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja – who are away on national duty.

Despite their recent form, it will be challenging for Saurashtra to breach Mumbai’s fortress. A lot of onus will lie on the pace attack to make the most of Wankhede’s seam-friendly conditions and dislodge the rocks of Mumbai batting – Sachin Tendulkar and Wasim Jaffer.

Key Players

Mumbai

As Mumbai eye their 40^th Ranji Trophy title, all eyes will be on the man who will be playing his sixth Ranji final. Sachin Tendulkar’s presence alone is enough to make Mumbai the favourites. A glimpse at Tendulkar’s record in Ranji finals – 755 runs in 10 innings with four centuries and two fifties – gives Saurashtra all the more reason to be intimidated.

Besides the batting maestro, Abhishek Nayar has been a standout performer for Mumbai this season. In 10 matches, the all-rounder has scored 940 runs at a superlative average of 104.44 and has picked 16 wickets at 25.12. A match-winning contribution in the final will be the perfect way to cap off a dream season for him.

Saurashtra

It’s been two decades since Sitanshu Kotak made his first-class debut. And on Saturday, he will step on the field to play his first Ranji Trophy final. Holding the most coveted domestic trophy will be nothing less than a dream for the most loyal servant of Saurashtra cricket. And Kotak will surely give his all to live that dream.

The fact that Saurashtra have made the final despite the absence of Pujara and Jadeja, has a lot to do with a man named Sheldon Jackson. The 27-year-old batsman has shouldered the team’s batting responsibility admirably, scoring 742 runs in eight matches. He has three centuries this season, including one each in the quarter-final and semi-final.

Trivia

Mumbai (or Bombay) have reached Ranji finals for the record 44^th time, while this is the first such instance for Saurashtra since its formation in 1950-51.

Mumbai have won the Ranji Trophy most number of times – 39. Only four times Mumbai have ended as second best after reaching the final.

This will be 12^th Ranji final for Mumbai at Wankhede. Out of the previous 11 occasions, Mumbai registered outright wins in seven. On two occasions Mumbai won on the basis of a first-innings lead. They lost once on a first-innings deficit (to Karnataka in 1982-83). Only once have Mumbai lost a Ranji final outright at Wankhede. That was against Haryana in 1990-91 – by two runs!

Statistics

Record in Ranji Trophy finals

Mumbai’s road to the 2012-13 Ranji Trophy final

Saurashtra’s road to the 2012-13 Ranji Trophy final

Head to Head

Mumbai-Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy

Highest total

Mumbai - 647/4d, Rajkot, 1996-97

Saurashtra - 643/4d, Rajkot, 2008-09

Lowest total

Mumbai - 79, Surendranagar, 1976-77

Saurashtra - 25, Bombay, 1951-52

Highest individual innings

Mumbai - 314*, Wasim Jaffer, Rajkot, 1996-97

Saurashtra - 198*, AN Pandya, Bombay, 1987-88

Best innings bowling

Mumbai - 8/12, GS Ramchand, Bombay, 1959-60

Saurashtra - 6/27, RR Jadeja, Surendranagar, 1976-77

Best match bowling

Mumbai - 11/37, DG Phadkar, Bombay, 1951-52

Saurashtra - 8/202, BM Radia, Bombay, 1991-92

The Squads

Mumbai: Ajit Agarkar (capt), Sachin Tendulkar, Wasim Jaffer, Suryakumar Yadav, Dhaval Kulkarni, Kaustubh Pawar, Abhishek Nayar, Hiken Shah, Aditya Tare (wk), Ankit Chavan, Nikhil Patil (Jr.), Javed Khan, Sushant Marathe, Shardul Thakur, Vishal Dabholkar.

Saurashtra: Jaydev Shah (capt), Sitanshu Kotak, Sagar Jogiyani (wk), Rahul Dave, Sheldon Jackson, Aarpit Vasavada, Kamlesh Makwana, Siddharth Trivedi, Jaydev Unadkat, Vishal Joshi, Sandeep Maniar, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, Saurya Sanandiya, Chirag Pathak, Harsha Anghan