Mumbai bank on young guns
With stars absent, Mumbai likely to give debut to 16yearold Yashasvi; Dhawal to lead
MUMBAI: After fast-tracking Prithvi Shaw into the Ranji Trophy team in 2016-17 season, Mumbai are on the verge of introducing another youngster — Yashasvi Jaiswal — in the squad when they start their quest for the 42nd title against the Railways in New Delhi on Thursday.
According to the sources, Yashasvi may make his debut at No 3, especially with the likes of Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer and Prithvi not available for selection.
At 16 years and 10 months, Yashasvi joins a long list of youngsters whom Mumbai selectors have handed first-class debuts quite early. Initially not part of the squad, he was drafted into it after skipper Iyer was named in the India team for the T20I series against the West Indies and Australia.
Sachin Tendulkar remains Mumbai’s youngest debutant at 15 years and 232 days while Prithvi made his debut couple of seasons ago at the age of 17 years and 57 days.
Yashasvi will now look to follow in their footsteps. The lefthanded batsman’s selection comes on the back of his sterling performance in the recentlyconcluded Under-19 Asia Cup where he scored 318 runs at an average of 79.5 while opening the innings to walk away with Manof-the-tournament award.
He has also played in the middle-order for Mumbai junior teams. Those, who have known him since his younger days, always felt that he would make it to the Mumbai team sooner rather than later.
OPTIMISTIC
Mumbai will hope that the youngster manages to deliver the goods in the absence of his illustrious seniors. It will also be an opportunity for him to cement his place in the squad with Mumbai’s top-order struggling in recent times.
Buoyant by their triumph in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Mumbai coach Vinayak Samant, is optimistic of team’s chances. “All players are confident after winning the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Openers Akhil Herwadkar and Jay Bista are a perfect foil for each other. While the left-handed Herwadkar likes to take his time and build his innings, Bista likes to go after the bowlers from the outset. There will be a huge responsibility on both to give Mumbai a solid start.
While Akhil didn’t get many opportunities last season, Bista often threw away his wicket by playing one shot too many. Also, with reports emerging that 16-year-old Yashasvi
Jaiswal may bat at No 3 Mumbai will be a bit thin on experience in the top-order.
ALL-ROUNDER
Mumbai have two promising all-rounders in Akash Parkar and Shivam Dube. While Parkar was Mumbai's second-highest wicket-taker last season, Dube forced his way into the
Vijay Hazare team with his performances in local tournaments. inexperienced at the Ranji level. While last year was Parkar’s first season, Dube will make his debut if he is included in the squad. Whoever Mumbai field, it will be a sort of a risk and will hope they come good. In four day games it will be different but our target will be to win sessions,” said Samant.
In the absence of Iyer, who captained the team in the Hazare Trophy, his deputy Dhawal Kulkarni will lead the team.
While Mumbai’s batting looks pale with big names missing in Three of Mumbai’s best performers in recent times — Surya Kumar Yadav, Siddhesh Lad (below) and Aditya Tare — occupy these spots and their performance will go a long way in how deep Mumbai go in to the tournament.
While Lad was Mumbai’s top-scorer last season, there are question marks over the temperament of Yadav and Tare. Last season their eagerness to get on with the game cost them dearly and the Mumbai coach will hope they will be more steady this time.
BOWLING
Mumbai will hope that Dhawal Kulkarni (below), Tushar Deshpande and left-arm spinner Shams Mulani carry over their Hazare Trophy form into the Ranji season. A collective effort will be the key for them in the absence
of a strike bowler.
Spin department has been the chink in Mumbai’s armour in recent campaigns and it remains so this time as well. While Mulani will be given an opportunity with another left-arm spinner Karsh Kothari, what quality they produce remains to be seen. action, Samant feels there is nothing to worry, considering it has been the case for the last few seasons.
EXPERIENCE COUNTS
The onus will be on the likes of opner Akhil Herwadkar and middle-order batsmen Surya Kumar Yadav and Siddhesh Lad to lead Mumbai’s charge in the batting department. In bowling, pressure will be on captain Kulkarni to spearhead the attack as Mumbai have struggled in recent times to skittle oppositions.
He will receive able support from right-arm seamer, Tushar Deshpande, who is low on experience, but has impressed with his zip in the Hazare Trophy. The main cause of worry will be the spin department, which hasn’t done well with Mumbai trying numerous options without much success.