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Mumbai will strive to be their best selves when they take on Uttarakhand in their Ranji Trophy Quarter-final, beginning in Bengaluru on Monday, June 6.
Before Uttarakhand became the force to reckon, the heavyweights had won the country's premier domestic tournament an unprecedented 34 times. Then, from 2000 to 2022, Mumbai had placed another seven humongous title-winning cups in their envious trophy cabinet.
In the context of the Ranji Trophy, using the word strive and Mumbai in the same breadth is ironic, for winning this title came naturally to the Mumbai outfits when they were superior and stubborn. Their game was also punctuated by their well-documented never-say-die attitude and hate-to-lose approach, something the once-upon-a-time cradle of Indian cricket is trying to rediscover.
Mumbai's entry into the quarterfinals of this edition was far from smooth as they just about made it after Saurashtra failed to win with a bonus point in their last group match against Goa. Nevertheless, the 41-time winners are the firm favourites heading into their latest challenge.
Mumbai will bank on their skipper Prithvi Shaw to lead from the front as the diminutive right-handed batter has the ability to take the inexperienced Uttarakhand attack to the task at the Alur Cricket Stadium II. A marauding Shaw is always a threat to the opposition in any format, and Uttarakhand will aim to get him early.
Mumbai have a set of relatively new batters, including Arman Jaffer, Bhupen Lalwani, and Hardik Tamore, who will need to play their roles well. However, the two players who can make a big impact are young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan. With his younger brother Musheer picked in the squad, Sarfaraz will be more than keen to put up a good show.
Sarfaraz, who did well for Delhi Capitals (DC) in the 2022 Indian Premier League season, has pulled Mumbai out of trouble on many occasions and will again look to anchor the innings. Ditto for Jaiswal, in whom the team management and coach Amol Mazumdar have reposed faith time and again. The two have all the necessary shots in the book and can pummel the opposition attack to submission.
Experienced batter-keeper Aditya Tare will need to shoulder more responsibility along with left-arm spinning all-rounder Shams Mulani. Mulani had grabbed 11 wickets in the team's last league game against Goa and will look to spin his web around the opposition batter, again.
He also forged a match-winning partnership with Tanush Kotian in the match against Goa. With Mulani a certainty in the playing XI, off-spinner Kotian could be preferred over senior pro Shashank Attarde, given his ability with the bat.
Mumbai have a decent pace attack, led by the seasoned Dhawal Kulkarni, who will have company in Tushar Deshpande. The tussle for the third pacer could be between Mohit Awasthi and Royston Dias.
While the Muzumdar-coached side will be aiming to move a step closer to its 42nd title, Uttarakhand would look to spring a surprise.
Focus on Gill in Punjab versus Madhya Pradesh game
Meanwhile, after his successful outing with Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2022, the focus will be on opener Shubman Gill, when his side Punjab take on Madhya Pradesh in another quarterfinal match. The elegant right-handed batter will be up against a varied Madhya Pradesh attack comprising left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya Singh, who also recently made his IPL debut.
The game is also a battle between veteran coaches Chandrakant Pandit and Surendra Bhave, two of the shrewdest minds in the domestic game and it will be interesting to see how they come up against each other.
