Hardik returns to action for Baroda

NEWDELHI: All eyes will be on India all-rounder Hardik Pandya as he makes a return to competitive cricket representing Baroda in a Ranji Trophy Elite Group B game against a struggling Mumbai. Baroda are well-placed on fifth in the combined Elite A and B points table whereas Mumbai are languishing at 16th (out of 18).

In other games, last year’s runners-up Delhi, who are also struggling in the lower rung, will take on Kerala in Thiruvananthapuram while last year’s champions Vidarbha, sixth in the combined table, play Railways in Delhi.

Pandya hasn’t played a competitive game after injury during the India-Pakistan Asia Cup game in Dubai on September 19.

Baroda will again depend on the batting duo of Kedar Devdhar and Aditya Waghmode besides the hard-hitting abilities of Pandya and Yusuf Pathan.

Baroda captain Devdhar said they’ll use Pandya smartly. “It depends on the situation, on how much he is needed. Obviously he has represented the country and

has come back from injury. We don’t intend to overuse him but if we need him we can use him. There has been no instruction from anyone on how many overs he can bowl.”

DELHI FAVOURITES

In an Elite Group B game, Delhi will be bolstered by the return of pace bowler Navdeep Saini from India A duty in New Zealand. Without Saini, Delhi’s bowling has looked thin and came alive only in the second innings of the last match against Andhra when debutant spinner Shivang Vasisht took five wickets. Earlier in the season, Delhi had failed to

earn full points against Himachal Pradesh who kept their bowling at bay on the last and final day of their match. With Gautam Gambhir retired, Himmat Singh and skipper Nitish Rana on duty with India Emerging side, much will rest on the shoulders of Dhruv Shorey, who will also lead the side.

Shorey made 98 in the last game against Andhra to help Delhi bag three points and stay in contention. However, he will have to lead the side to victory to move up the combined points table where they are in 13th position after five rounds and four matches.

VIDARBHA BUOYANT

After a rest in the previous round, the Faiz Fazal side that won its maiden Ranji title last season will look to garner full points against Railways who have looked flat and are placed 15th in the combined table.

The skipper has been their most successful batsman this season, racking up 492 runs in four games at 82.

Last year’s star pace bowler Rajneesh Gurbani, who missed the first few rounds due to India A duty, will return to the side to strengthen the bowling that has been the weak link for the defending champions.