By Nikhil Bapat
Hyderabad: The quarterfinal of the Ranji Trophy between Mumbai and Haryana is shifted to Eden Gardens, Kolkata, from Chaudhari Bansilal Stadium at Lahli in Haryana. A highly placed source in the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) confirmed the development that the hosting ground for the Ranji Trophy match has changed.
“We had made all the preparations to take the team to Lahli like providing woollen sweaters to all the players, however, the BCCI shifted the game at the last moment due to unavoidable circumstances. The game will be played at the at Eden Gardens," the source from MCA told ETV Bharat on Wednesday. The Mumbai team led by Ajinkya Rahane and comprising the likes of Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube were slated to go to Lahli on Wednesday morning but now with the change in venue, they will arrive in Kolkata.
Both teams have been informed about the development by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) late on Wednesday night. All the four quarter-finals will take place from February 8 to 12. The Jammu and Kashmir versus Kerala Ranji Trophy quarter-final was also shifted to Pune by the BCCI.
Mumbai finished in the second position in the points table after they conceded a shocking defeat against Jammu and Kashmir in the previous round. Despite boasting international stars like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma in their lineup, Mumbai were outplayed by Jammu and Kashmir, who topped the table in their group. The domestic giants however defeated Meghalaya with a bonus point to make the quarters. Also, the result of the Baroda versus the Jammu and Kashmir game went in their favour, which also helped Mumbai make the knockouts.
The Ranji Trophy league games are a four-day affair with the knockouts are a five-day affair. Although Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal will not be part of the quarter-final clash, captain Ajinkya Rahane will have Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube to his aid in the key clash. Both Suryakumar and Dube were part of the Indian team, in the recent T20I series against England. Rohit will also be leading the Indian team in the three-match ODI series against England, starting in Nagpur, on February 6.
17-year-old Ayush Mhatre, who has impressed the cricket fraternity, is likely to return to the top of the batting order. The Haryana bowling outfit will be spearheaded by Anshul Kamboj.
Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) President Snehasish Ganguly said, "Yes, the quarter-final between Mumbai and Haryana has been shifted to Eden Gardens. The BCCI knows why the match is shifted to Eden Gardens."
Another CAB official said that entry to the match is free for the spectators and the K Bloc will be open to the public. When it comes to Mumbai versus Haryana, a cricket buff automatically recalls the 1991 Ranji Trophy final played at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Haryana defeated Mumbai by 2 runs and Dilip Vengsarkar cried like a child on the pitch.
