Saurashtra face mighty Mumbai

RANJI

Pune: A young but mighty Mumbai have history and form firmly on their side when they chase their 41st Ranji Trophy

title by locking horns with Saurashtra, who are taking a rare shot at domestic cricket’s

biggest prize, in the summit showdown beginning here on

Wednesday. While Mumbai will be appearing

in their 45th final of the top domestic tournament, it is only the second time that Saurashtra

are in the title clash. Incidentally, it was Mumbai who put paid to Saurashtra’s hopes of a maiden triumph by wrapping the final in three days in 2012-13. That was the only time

Saurashtra came close to the title. Mumbai won that match by an innings and 125 runs for their

40th trophy. Three seasons later, the scene remains more or less the same

and it will take a huge effort from Saurashtra to upset a side which has almost won more titles than the rest of India

combined. For the record, since 1990-91, Mumbai haven’t lost any of the

10 finals they have played. Mumbai have at least five of those who played in the earlier final in the squad — Aditya Tare,

Abhishek Nayar, Dhawal Kulkarni, Shardul Thakur and

Vishal Dabholkar. While Sheldon Jackson (525 runs) is the highest scorer for Saurashtra

this season, their batting has been strengthened by the solid

Cheteshwar Pujara.