They have faced each other four times, including a semifinal, in the last three seasons. As Mumbai and Tamil Nadu square off again in a Group C Ranji Trophy tie, the stakes will perhaps be higher than any of the previous encounters — not just from the teams’ perspective but also for some key individuals.
Both teams have been bolstered by the return of regulars for the match scheduled at the MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy here from Tuesday.
While Tamil Nadu will have all-rounders Vijay Shankar and B. Aparajith back from India A duty, Mumbai is strengthened by the inclusion of batsmen Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer and pace spearhead Dhawal Kulkarni, who were plying their trade for the Board President’s XI against the touring New Zealanders.
Tamil Nadu, with R. Ashwin and Murali Vijay also available, will be hoping to turn its tottering campaign around in the next four days. Despite facing relatively weaker sides in the group, Abhinav Mukund’s team has garnered just four points in its first two games.
Mumbai, with the return of captain Aditya Tare, is better off, having earned three points from its season-opener last week.
It will present an opportunity for the players to put in a sterling performance that would put themselves and their team in good stead for the hectic few months ahead.
On the eve of the match, Shreyas earned a maiden call-up to India’s T20 squad. The man for all formats for Mumbai over the last three seasons will be keen to celebrate his selection by succeeding against Ashwin, one of the most successful off-spinners in world cricket. Young opener Shaw too will be eager to take another step in his flourishing career by facing a top-notch spinner.
Similarly seasoned opener Vijay, who was recalled to the Test squad after recovering from wrist trouble, will look to get back into the groove by getting the better of the Kulkarni-led Mumbai attack. And captain Abhinav will hope to get back into the national reckoning with a strong show.
It would be interesting to see if the Test stars sizzle in the domestic powerhouse’s own backyard.
The teams (from): Mumbai: Aditya Tare (capt, wk), Suryakumar Yadav (vice-capt), Akhil Herwadkar, Prithvi Shaw, Jay Bista, Siddhesh Lad, Abhishek Nayar, Vijay Gohil, Akash Parkar, Royston Dias, Minad Manjrekar, Aditya Dhumal, Sufiyan Shaikh (wk).
Tamil Nadu: Abhinav Mukund (capt), B. Indrajith (vice-capt), M. Vijay, M. Kaushik Gandhi, B. Aparajith, Vijay Shankar, N. Jagadeesan (wk), M.S. Washington Sundar, R. Sai Kishore, Rahil Shah, K. Vignesh, R. Ashwin, V. Yo Mahesh, L. Vignesh, R. Rohith (wk), V. Ganga Sridhar Raju.