Saurashtra’s Jaydev Unadkat will look to add to his spectacular home credentials.
| Photo Credit: EMMANUAL YOGINI
Defending champion Saurashtra is the team to beat in Group ‘A’ of the Vijay Hazare 50-over Trophy, which commences right here on Thursday. In its opening fixture, Saurashtra takes on Kerala at the Alur grounds. Saurashtra’s Jaydev Unadkat, the highest wicket-taker in the earlier version, will look to add to his already spectacular home credentials.
Saurashtra will face a stiff problem from conventional heavyweights Mumbai. Led by skilled Test participant Ajinkya Rahane, the aspect relies upon on the likes of batter Sarfaraz Ahmed, pacer Shivam Dube and spinner Shams Mulani to come good.
Ace batter Suryakumar Yadav, southpaw opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and quick bowler Dhawal Kulkarni will not be a part of the Mumbai squad. The Mumbai-Saurashtra outing, scheduled for Dec. 1, might nicely resolve the destiny of this group.
Kerala, in the meantime, has the expertise to spring a shock. Explosive wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson is the skipper, and in Rohan Kunnummal and Sachin Baby, the unit boasts of a robust batting line-up. All-rounder Shreyas Gopal, who represented Karnataka for a number of seasons with distinction, now options in the Kerala squad.
Kerala will purpose to enhance upon its efficiency final 12 months, when it was taken out by Jammu and Kashmir in the first knockout spherical. Railways, Tripura, Pondicherry, Odisha and Sikkim — none certified for the knockout rounds final 12 months – are the different groups in the combine.
