Mumbai: With a view to keep him fresh for the knockouts, Mumbai will rest in-form seamer Mohit Avasthi when they take on Chhattisgarh at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur in their penultimate league match of the Ranji Trophy from Friday, TOI has learnt.
Enjoying a ‘dream run’ after having scored four outright wins in five games so far this season, Mumbai, who are topping Elite Group B with 27 points, have virtually sealed a quarterfinals spot.
Much of Mumbai’s success in the group stage of the Ranji Trophy has come due to the outstanding form of Avasthi. With 28 scalps in five matches at a fabulous average of 13.96, including three five-wicket hauls and a best performance of seven for 52 against Bengal in the last match, Avasthi has emerged as the third-highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy at this point. In fact, with his fine performances, the 31-year-old has made a solid case to be picked for India A next season. “He was complaining of a hamstring issue in the last game. With our pacers Shardul Thakur (recovered after ankle injury) and Tushar Deshpande (back from India A duty) available for this match, we thought we could give Mohit a break now. He has bowled 733 balls this season already, and there is only a three-day gap between matches. We need to keep him fresh for the knockouts,” a source in the Mumbai Cricket Association told this paper. Mumbai have already rested India’s T20 allrounder Shivam Dube for this match.
Meanwhile, Mumbai will also be boosted by the return of left-arm spinning all-rounder Shams Mulani and skipper Ajinkya Rahane, who missed the last match against Bengal at Kolkata which Mumbai, won due to a hamstring injury.
With 12 points in five games, Chhatisgarh are placed fifth on the table.
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Enjoying a ‘dream run’ after having scored four outright wins in five games so far this season, Mumbai, who are topping Elite Group B with 27 points, have virtually sealed a quarterfinals spot.
Much of Mumbai’s success in the group stage of the Ranji Trophy has come due to the outstanding form of Avasthi. With 28 scalps in five matches at a fabulous average of 13.96, including three five-wicket hauls and a best performance of seven for 52 against Bengal in the last match, Avasthi has emerged as the third-highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy at this point. In fact, with his fine performances, the 31-year-old has made a solid case to be picked for India A next season. “He was complaining of a hamstring issue in the last game. With our pacers Shardul Thakur (recovered after ankle injury) and Tushar Deshpande (back from India A duty) available for this match, we thought we could give Mohit a break now. He has bowled 733 balls this season already, and there is only a three-day gap between matches. We need to keep him fresh for the knockouts,” a source in the Mumbai Cricket Association told this paper. Mumbai have already rested India’s T20 allrounder Shivam Dube for this match.
Meanwhile, Mumbai will also be boosted by the return of left-arm spinning all-rounder Shams Mulani and skipper Ajinkya Rahane, who missed the last match against Bengal at Kolkata which Mumbai, won due to a hamstring injury.
With 12 points in five games, Chhatisgarh are placed fifth on the table.
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Ranji Trophy: Shardul Thakur returns, Shivam Dube rested
Mumbai, with 27 points, is close to qualifying for the Ranji Trophy knockout rounds. Shardul Thakur, their injured India pace all-rounder, will return for the next match against Chhattisgarh in Raipur. Ajinkya Rahane, who missed the last game, has recovered from a hamstring injury and will lead the side.
Mumbai, with 27 points, is close to qualifying for the Ranji Trophy knockout rounds. Shardul Thakur, their injured India pace all-rounder, will return for the next match against Chhattisgarh in Raipur. Ajinkya Rahane, who missed the last game, has recovered from a hamstring injury and will lead the side.