The stage is set for a riveting clash with Vidarbha riding on the high of a nerve-wracking win over Karnataka while Delhi thrashed Bengal to reach the Ranji Trophy 2017-18 final. The Faiz Fazal-led side are making their maiden appearance in the final of the prestigious multi-day tournament while Delhi last played in the final a decade back.
“It is always a big opportunity to play any final. Obviously, it is the biggest thing in India if you are playing the Ranji Trophy final. As a captain, it is my second season (Rishabh Pant was named the Delhi skipper for the shorter formats in 2016-17). It is a big opportunity that DDCA has given me. I will try to do my best and take the trophy back to Delhi,” said the young captain.
Looking forward to the grand finale, Fazal, said, “We are extremely happy to reach this occasion and stage. But we are treating this as just another game because it’s a very important game for us. We would like to play positive cricket, as we have been playing throughout the season.”
Speaking about Vidarbha’s run-up to the season and being asked if they are the underdogs, “I don’t know actually. We have six-seven outright wins so maybe [we are underdogs]. But we don’t mind.
“The way we played the semi-finals, even that was a big occasion for us. We didn’t play the semi-final before this. But the way we played as a whole unit, it showed our character. So, this is the final, obviously it will be live on TV, the guys are not used to being on the screen, but we don’t care because it’s about the game between the bat and ball,” added the highest run-getter for Vidarbha this season.
Speaking about his side, Pant said, “For the last two-three seasons, Delhi would miss qualifying (for the knockouts) by one or two points. This time we made sure we qualified, and we had achieved that before our last league game.”
Delhi Coach K P Bhaskar added, “Everyone is excited about reaching the finals. In fact, to be honest, we were the underdogs to begin with. Nobody expected us to reach the final, so I think that way the boys have done exceedingly well. Of course, we are carrying a few niggles as well but yes, they are all looking forward to it. Our first goal was to qualify. What we have been telling these boys is that unless we qualify you can’t showcase your talent in front of the selectors, the officials, captains and the seniors. That sort of spurred them up and won the last two knockout games that’s why we are in the final and we hope to do well here as well. Some of the youngsters have come good, there are a lot of debutants this season and they have all come good. I am hoping that they will continue their good form in the final as well.”
Discussing the Delhi team and the attack, he mentioned, “We have played on some very placid pitches this year and both Manan (Sharma) and (Vikas) Mishra have done exceedingly well. Of course, we don’t have too many varieties in spin in the sense that we have two left-arm spinners, an off spinner in the 15 but we haven’t played him. We have always relied more on our fast bowling with Ishant (Sharma) captaining at the beginning of the season we have a good seam attack with both (Navdeep) Saini and Kulwant (Khejroliya) who has made his debut this season, even (Vikas) Tokas has done exceedingly well. He has chipped in with the odd wicket that’s what we have always relied on him. It is good that Mishra, who making a comeback after about four the seasons is the top wicket-taker of the team and am hoping as a combination they would do justice.”
Speaking about the turnaround for Vidarbha this season, Fazal said, “(It’s) The winning habit, definitely! The way we won against Punjab, they had all the stars in the team and we got seven points in that game. That start was really important for us. The way we have been playing the whole season, we always wanted to win the game, not only take the first-innings lead…like we played in the quarter-finals. We could have batted the whole day and we could have just walked away. But we thought that let’s make a game out of this. We already had plans to declare after lunch and then give two sessions to them and the way we played then for the outright win, this is the way we’ve been planning to play this season and hopefully we’ll continue like this.”
While saying that the team will miss Umesh Yadav, Fazal mentioned, “We have a few plans with the other bowlers as well. They have been doing the same things in the nets as well. We are really confident.”
Speaking about Delhi, Fazal said, “They have been playing really well, I really appreciate the way Delhi are playing this season. I think they’ll be a tougher team to beat.”
While saying that the final is the biggest occasion of his first-class career, Fazal said, “The discipline in the team, the routines and preparations we had before coming into the Ranji Trophy (is what has helped the team). Except the nets, we also did match simulations. And one more thing is that we are a really happy unit. We are enjoying our cricket very much. We always used to enjoy but I don’t know why we all believe that this season the trophy is ours. I want to have the feel of the trophy in my hands. I want to have that bite of success so let’s see. I have always been a team man – I think that way – so winning for my team will be the biggest achievement of my career,” he stated. d
