Forty one times Ranji Trophy champions, Mumbai are set to play their 500th Ranji Trophy match on November 10, 2017. The Aditya Tare-led team will take on Baroda at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai for the landmark encounter.
Speaking to the media ahead of the match, Tare said, “It is a special game for us. It is a great feeling to be playing the 500th Ranji Trophy game for a terrific side. It is going to be a great game for us. We feel we are quite fortunate to be in the squad that will be playing the 500th game. There has been a huge contribution (from players) right from the inception of Mumbai cricket. Credit and congratulations to everyone who has been part of the Mumbai team.
“I think there is going to be a great vibe to the game. But we are going to treat it as just another game of cricket which is important for us to win. We will play with intensity and positive intent and hopefully try and get maximum points out of this game as well. We are playing at the Wankhede after a long time, so that is great to be coming back to the home dressing room, the home ground, and obviously with a good strength in the squad as well,” he added.
Only the top two teams from each group will qualify for the knock-outs. Mumbai, who have played three matches in the 2017-18 season, are at No 3 position in the Group C while Andhra and Madhya Pradesh at No 1 and two respectively, but have played four games each.
Speaking about his team’s position, the Mumbai captain said, “Every game from now on is important. We know we have two teams ahead of us in the points table. We have to do the catching up.”
Mumbai have an almost full-strength squad available for the key game. The team is boosted by the presence of Ajinkya Rahane, vice-captain of India’s Test side and they also have Shreyas Iyer and Shardul Thakur. While talking about his team, the skipper said, “Everyone is fit. That is a great sign (that we have a full-strength squad) and hopefully, we play full strength tomorrow.”
Asked if a shorter league stage has made tournament livelier?, he observed, “It is too difficult to comment at the moment. One drawback I see at the moment is no team fears going down. There is no relegation. No one cares if they are last (on the points table). No one is saving games. No one is going to feel the pinch of going down to Group C or being relegated. Obviously, it is tough. Two teams out of seven in each group. If any good team lags behind or loses a game due to weather or any other reason, then they are behind, and it will not be fair to them. But we have to accept the rules and we have to play and get on with it. It is difficult to judge (right now). At the end of the season, we can say what went right and what went wrong with this format.”
Assessing the opposition led by Deepak Hooda, Tare said, “Baroda has always been a good team. Lots of good cricketers have come from there. At the moment they look a young team, but they are always dangerous. Few unknown players (are there), and (so) you don’t know what their strengths and weaknesses are. It is always difficult to play unknown faces. It will be a challenge for us to take on the youngsters.”
The newly appointed captain of Baroda said, “It is an important game for us as well. We have a young side. They have played and performed in Under 23. It is a good side.”
