UP likely to field same squad against Jharkhand
Outcome of the tie will help winners step closer to the knockout stage
LUCKNOW: Hosts and former champion Uttar Pradesh is expected to field an unchanged side against star-studded Jharkhand in the four-day Elite Group C Ranji Trophy match, starting Friday, at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee International Cricket Stadium here.
Except in one match, Akshdeep Nath-led Uttar Pradesh has so far played with 7+4 combination, including a spinner in all five matches so far and the black soil pitch here, which has bounce and speed, is unlikely to see local boy Zeeshan Ansari combining with left-arm orthodox spinner Saurabh Kumar.
“We as a unit have been doing well so far and I still believe that 7+4 combination, including a spinner is the best combination at the wicket where the opportunities will remain same for both batsmen and bowlers,” UP’s skipper Akshdeep said soon after team’s routine practice on Wednesday.
“Certainly, it’s the most crucial game at the half way mark of the season. We are well prepared and everybody has been doing well,” said Akshdeep, adding, “If we do well here then we don’t have to worry about the end.”
For sure this match is very important for both the sides as a win would help a side remain in contention for a berth in the knockout as top two teams would qualify from the Elite Group C. Five teams from Group A and B would be picked up, whereas the top team from Plate Group will complete the eight-team line-up in the knockout.
Akshdeep, who has been in a tremendous form this season with 475 runs, which included two centuries and a half-century, dubbed the rivals as a good side.
“They are also a good side and doing well. They have won some good matches and their bowling unit is quite lethal. Fast bowlers are taking 7-8 wickets per innings and to tackle them well, we need to play our best cricket of the season,” he said.
“Presence of Ishan Kishan and Nadeem in the side have made them a strong unit. I am sure it will be a close contest here.”
The two teams would go for yet another training session on Thursday before finalizing the playing XIs. Rajasthan lead the table with 28 points, whereas Uttar Pradesh are the second spot with 24 points. Jharkhand would be needing at least three points on the basis of the first innings lead to equal UP.
TEAMS
Jharkhand: Ishan kishan, Rahul Shukla, Varun Aaron, S Nadeem, Sumit Kumar, Saurabh Tiwary, Kr Deobrat, Utkarsh Singh, Ashish Kumar, Anukul Roy, S Rathore, Ajay Yadav, Ishank Jaggi, MD Nazim, Alok Sharma and Virat Singh.
Uttar Pradesh: Madhav Kaushik, Priyam Garg, Aksh Deep Nath (captain), Imtiaz Ahmed, Suresh Raina, Mohammad Saif, Saurabh Kumar, Rinku Singh, Dhruv Pratap Singh, Upendra Yadav (w-k) and Yash Dayal.