Ranji semi-finals: Pujara, Umesh in focus
NEWDELHI:Two marathon men of Indian cricket will be in focus when Saurashtra face Karnataka in Bengaluru and Kerala host Vidarbha in Wayanad in Ranji Trophy semis from Thursday.
The last time Cheteshwar Pujara took guard against Karnataka in Ranji was in 2013, scoring a triple century at Rajkot. This time, Saurashtra face a strong Karnataka at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, where the new age Wall had made his Test debut.
Pujara is in phenomenal form after a career-defining three centuries carried India to a historic first Test series win in Australia. Back home, his unbeaten halfcentury helped Saurashtra chase down a Ranji record fourth-innings target of 372 against Uttar Pradesh in the quarterfinal.
But Saurashtra’s batting is also bolstered by teenaged opener Harvik Desai, Snell Patel and the seasoned Sheldon Jackson. Skipper Jaydev Unadkat’s left-arm pace bowling and Dharmendrasinh Jadeja’s left-arm spin in Ravindra Jadeja’s absence have all kept the team chase their maiden Ranji success. In their earlier avatar, Nawanagar had won in 1936-37. But Saurashtra lost their only final in 2012-13.
Karnataka will be formidable opponents. Seasoned pacer Vinay Kumar has been crucial. The eight-time former winners have the credentials down the line-up. Opener Mayank Agarwal, after an impressive Test debut in Australia, missed the quarterfinal win over Rajasthan due to a thumb injury, but is back to team up with Manish Pandey and Karun Nair, who is slowly regaining confidence after he was ignored and replacement Hanuma Vihari handed his debut in the Oval Test last September.
Leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal has had a good run. Off-spinner K Gowtham was nursing a shoulder problem during the quarterfinals.
JAFFER, UMESH KEY
Wasim Jaffer, 39 runs short of 1,000 runs this Ranji season, and Umesh Yadav, whose nine wickets against Uttarakhand showed he is thirsting for success after getting just one Test in Australia, will spearhead what Vidarbha will throw at Kerala.
The first-time semi-finalists though upstaged Gujarat in the quarterfinals at Wayanad, and the talented bunch has responded well to coach Dav Whatmore.
Vidarbha, and the Umesh-led attack, will be the biggest challenge for the Kerala batsmen even if they get the evergreen Jaffer, fresh from scoring 206 -- his fourth triple figure knock of the season -- early.