Internet Desk: A confident Bengal led by Manoj Tiwary will take on Railways in a Ranji Trophy Group A clash at the HPCA stadium in Dharamsala from Thursday. Fresh from their incredible 115 runs win against Punjab in the last match at Bilaspur, Bengal will look to carry on their winning momentum. Railways on the other hand have been struggling following their back to back losses against Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. In the last match against Gujarat they suffered a humiliating 294 runs defeat at the hands of Gujarat.
Bengal will be bolstered by the presence of India stumper Wriddhiman Saha, who will be making his first Ranji Trophy appearance this season. Saha has been in tremendous form with the bat, notching up his maiden test century against the visiting New Zealand side in the second test match of the recently concluded series. The wicket-keeper batsman will be recharged after a break of two weeks. He was advised to take a break from cricket by Team India coach Anil Kumble in order to remain afresh for the test series coming up against England next month. Saha missed Bengal’s opening two encounters against Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. With Saha coming in, the Bengal team management will be forced to make one change. Either Agniv Pan or Sreevats Goswami will have to make way for Wriddhiman.
According to Bengal coach Sairaj Bahutule, “Both have done well. Agniv scored a half century on debut against UP. He also scored 70 in the first innings against Punjab. While Sreevats scored a century against UP. It will be a tough call but we will decide tomorrow.”
The Bengal team had a rigorous training session today at the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association stadium. The wicket at the HPCA stadium has a grass cover on it suggesting pacers will have enough help from it. Bengal might keep the same pace attack that played against Punjab. It is the same wicket on which TN- UP match was played.
Bengal coach Sairaj Bahutule feel, “The wicket will support fast bowlers as it has grass-cover. We would like to continue with our pacers who played in the game against Punjab.”
Both Ashoke Dinda and debutant Amit Kuila did well against Punjab. Railways will be hoping their pacer-trio Anureet Singh, Krishnakant Upadhyay and Ranjit Mali to come good in the match.
Asked about any special plans for Deepak Bansal, who took 8 wickets in the last match, he said:. “We have done our homework. We are ready to face any challenge from the opposition. If he has bowled well in the last match, we also have batsmen who scored run in the previous matches.”
In the last five face-offs, Bengal managed only one win with two losses and two draws against Railways. But skipper Manoj Tiwary is not worried about statistics. “We don’t go by the statistics. Our plan is ready. The wicket here will be lively and good for cricket. It has fresh grass on it. I think it will help the fast bowlers more.”
Railways so far achieved 3 points from 3 matches while Bengal has 9 points from the same number of matches.