Ranji Trophy | A depleted Bengal takes on Kerala as rain risk looms massive

Stalwart: Bengal will depend on Saha’s expertise to return to the fore.
| Photograph Credit score: FILE PHOTO: VIJAY SONEJI

Incessant rain because of the impression of Cyclone Dana has put a query mark over the Ranji Trophy Group-C fixture between Bengal and Kerala, scheduled to begin on the Jadavpur College floor right here on Saturday.

Each groups settled for one level apiece of their respective matches within the earlier spherical. Whereas play was not doable in Bengal’s engagement towards Bihar attributable to moist outfield at Kalyani, Kerala’s first innings couldn’t be accomplished in its rain-affected match towards Karnataka at Alur.

The Cricket Affiliation of Bengal (CAB), which shifted the Kerala fixture out of Kalyani, requested the Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI) to defer the duel due to the cyclone risk, but it surely was in useless.

Nationwide obligation

After shedding a golden alternative to seize some helpful factors towards underdog Bihar, a depleted Bengal – which is on 4 factors – is in a quandary as 4 of its distinguished gamers, Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar, Abhimanyu Easwaran and Abishek Porel, is not going to be accessible attributable to Nationwide obligation.

Seamer Ishan Porel and wicketkeeper-batter Shakir Habib Gandhi have been picked as replacements and must be hopeful of creating it to the enjoying XI.

The Bengal batting will rely on Sudip Chatterjee and Sudip Gharami, captain Anustup Majumdar and Wriddhiman Saha. Suraj Jaiswal and Mohammed Kaif will spearhead the bowling assault. All-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed will present much-needed stability.

Even with out Sanju Samson, Kerala, which practised indoors on Friday, will depend on its prime batters Rohan Kunnumal, Sachin Child, Baba Aparajith, Mohammed Azharuddeen and Jalaj Saxena.

Basil Thampi and spinners Aditya Sarwate and Saxena will shoulder the accountability within the bowling division for the touring crew, which has collected seven factors.

“It’s an unlucky state of affairs to have rains round this time. With out Bengal’s stalwarts, we should always be capable of break via,” stated Kerala coach Amay Khurasiya.