Gambhir, Ishant’s guidance to help Delhi against HP
NEW DELHI: With two battle hardened veterans and a bunch of sprightly young men at his disposal, it will be baptism by fire for young Nitish Rana who will lead Delhi in their Ranji Trophy opener against Himachal Pradesh, from Monday.
Gautam Gambhir and Ishant Sharma, the two seniors are currently at the different crossroads in their careers.
For Ishant, a Ranji Trophy match is a like a pit-stop, where he add miles to his legs before embarking on tougher assignments. This time he is here to check his match fitness ahead of the Australia Test series.
For Gambhir, it is the business end of his career where he wants to take one match at a time and not think too far ahead.
Having relinquished captaincy, Gambhir will keep a hawk eye on Rana, who will have his first tryst with senior team leadership. “I am a bit nervous but I am happy that seniors like Gautam Gambhir and Ishant Sharma are there to guide me during my first match as captain,” said Rana.
This is a Delhi team with an average age of 25 barring the two senior players and it will be an opportunity for them to repeat the impressive show of Vijay Hazare Trophy, where they ended runners-up to Mumbai.
It will certainly be a blessing in disguise to play a lightweight Himachal Pradesh in the opening game. Himachal have already played a game against Bengal at home and conceded first innings lead to the visitors.
HITEN EXPECTED TO MAKE DEBUT
However, Delhi will have their fair share of worries including the non-availability of opener Kunal Chandela, who had an impressive maiden season in last edition. He is out with a fractured forearm and Hiten Dalal, who has played seven List A matches so far with good returns, is expected to make his first class debut. Hiten will be opening alongside Gambhir.
BENGAL EYE WIN AT HOME AGAINST MP
KOLKATA:BENGAL will be looking to strengthen their batting and exploit home conditions when they host Madhya Pradesh in a second round Ranji Trophy fixture from Monday. Both teams have secured three points from their opening match with the help of first innings leads.
While Bengal drew against Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh played a drawn match against Tamil Nadu.
ARUN LAL’S MESSAGE FOR BENGAL
In their first match of the season, four Bengal batsmen scored halfcenturies including skipper Manoj Tiwary, while three others got out for 40s and the Arun Lal-mentored side would look to convert their starts.
“50s and 60s don’t really help. You have let the team down and the element of struggle remains. You have given it away after doing 90 per cent hard work,” was Lal’s message to the team.
Openers Abhishek Raman (48 and 87) and Abhimnayu Easwaran (21 and 76) looked in fine form against Himachal Pradesh but could not consolidate.
“The ball seams in morning session. For batsmen, if we survive till drinks, you get value for your shots. There’re pros and cons,” said skipper Tiwary.
“I’m thinking about scoring a big one, but it’s not in my hands. I’m happy with the batting but I need to focus more when I cross 50-60. I will try my best,” Tiwary, who got out for 55, added.
On a high after an impressive show for Bengal in the Vijay Hazare Trophy one dayers, Vivek Singhis likely to make his Ranji Trophy debut for Bengal. HONGKONG:IRANIAN equality campaigners have questioned whether Saturday’s decision to admit females to the venue for the Asian Champions League final was a one-off or the start of a new era for sport in the country.
Authorities in the conservative Islamic nation relaxed a ban on female fans at club football matches that has been in place place since 1981 to permit a group of women to attend the game between Tehran’s Persepolis and Kashima Antlers from Japan.
World governing body FIFA said more than 1,000 women attended the match.
Iran’s best-supported club Persepolis missed out on the opportunity to win their first-ever Asian title when they failed to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit.
Reports on social media said those attending the Persepolis game on Saturday were a handselected group who watched from a designated area.