UP aim for a good start sans Raina in season opener
LUCKNOW: Former champions Uttar Pradesh would be missing the services of its former skipper and a strong middle-order batsman Suresh Raina, when they begin their Elite Group C Ranji Trophy campaign against Goa on Thursday in Kanpur.
Left-hander Raina has reportedly chosen not to play the first two matches this season for reasons better know known to him and team management as well as the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association bosses are clueless about his absence.
The absence of an ageing Raina, who could make just 105 runs with 33 being his highest in nine innings in five Ranji Trophy matches last season, would give an option to the team management to let a young man fit in his place. “Yes, we can try a new one at his place, who may turn out better. We were just told that he (Raina) is not coming for this match, but don’t know the reason behind this,” said a team official on Wednesday.
GREEN TOP
As expected Uttar Pradesh has asked for a green top wicket at the Green Park Stadium as they want their pacers to dictate terms against their first match ever against Goa in the domestic cricket.
Experienced Ankit Rajpoot and India’s ICC under-19 World Cup winning bowler Shivam Mavi would be the key seamers an energetic Goan side. Left-arm orthodox spinner Saurabh Kumar, who had 35 wickets last season is expected to share the red cherry with fellow leggie Zeeshan Ansari in the season opener. Skipper Aakshdeep Nath, who has been a terrific form with willow, along with allrounder Rinku Singh, Priyam Garg, Umang Sharma and keeper-batsman Upendra Yadav will bolster UP’s batting.
POOR START
The current season so far hasn’t been good for UP. Raina and Co fared poorly in the season opener Vijay Hazare Trophy as they finished eighth in the nine teams group and that despite Raina scoring three half centuries. Akshdeep Nath had scored highest 258 runs.
Since 2013-14 when UP lost to Karnataka in the quarterfinals, a berth in the knockout has been a distant dream for one of the best sides in the domestic cricket.
After winning their maiden Ranji Trophy in 2004-05, Rainaled UP had their worst Ranji season last year when they somehow managed to avoid relegation to the Plate Group, finishing sixth in the seven-team group with just five points to their account.
After losing to Railways by 21 runs in the opening encounter, UP’s next tie against Hyderabad was abandoned, before they lost to Maharashtra by 31 runs. This wasn’t all as they lost to Delhi in the next match by four wickets before playing consecutive draw matches against Assam and Karnataka.
DETERMINED RIVALS
Sagun Kamat-led Goa look an energetic and challenging side against the hosts. Kamath himself has been among the runs along with Snehal Suhas Kauthankar, who too has underlined his potential with bat hitting 577 runs in seven matches so far. Two left-arm orthodox spinners Darshan Misal and Amulya Pandrekar would be the bowlers to watch for the side. “We are going into the match with a positive mind set. UP is a strong side, but we too are detrained to play our best cricket against them,” team’s coach Praveen said on the eve of the four-day encounter.