After disappointing start, UP look to bounce back
RANJI TROPHY Stand-in skipper Eklavya Dwivedi wants to start afresh; UP play against Tamil Nadu from today
In a virtual replay of last year’s scenario, former champions Uttar Pradesh are languishing at the bottom of the table with just one point after the first two rounds in Group A of the Ranji Trophy.
They started their campaign with a humiliating innings defeat against Madhya Pradesh at Hyderabad and then conceded the first innings lead against Bengal at Jaipur. They could garner just one point from the second match. Group A has nine teams. Regular skipper Suresh Raina could not bat in the first match due to fever. Before the second game, he was called up to join Team India for the ODI series against New Zealand.
Stand-in skipper Eklavya Dwivedi is eager to have the side bounce back when UP take on a strong Tamil Nadu in their third round match at Dharamsala from Thursday.
“We are looking to stage a comeback. A good showing here would help us change our fortunes,” Dwivedi told HT on the eve of the four-day game.
“I have not decided the XI. Water was sprinkled on the pitch late in the evening and it was covered then. I will see the wicket tomorrow morning and then plan the strategy accordingly,” said Eklavya who agreed that the side didn’t play to its potential in the first game against Madhya Pradesh.
“We have six games to go this season. There are plenty of opportunities to bounce back,” said Eklavya who would also lead the side against Gujarat in the fourth round tie, starting October 27as Raina would be with Team India.
Umang Sharma is the top scorer for the side with an aggregate of 136, including a century. Tanmay Srivastava (93), Sarfaraz KJhan (85) and Kuldeep Yadav (63) scored half centuries. In the bowling department, Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav has topped with 11 wickets followed by Ankit Rajpoot (7), Imtiaz Ahmed (4) and Piyush Chawla (2).
Defending the team’s performance, Eklavya said batsmen did well in the second
STAND-IN SKIPPER EKLAVYA DWIVEDI IS EAGER TO HAVE THE SIDE BOUNCE BACK WHEN UP TAKE ON A STRONG TAMIL NADU IN THEIR THIRD ROUND MATCH AT DHARAMSALA FROM THURSDAY.
game when they managed to score 400-plus runs in the first innings. “It shows that we are improving and I hope that this would continue.”
Eklavya refused to comment on the conduct of matches at neutral venues for the first time this season.
“It is too early to comment on it, but I believe that a pitch holds equal opportunities for both sides. Tamil Nadu are a good side. We are also ready to challenge them.”
He praised Kuldeep, saying: “He is bowling well. We also need our young seam bowlers (barring Ankit Rajpoot) to be among the wickets.”