The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Delhi has an edge

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Delhi has an edge

Nandakumar Marar

MUMBAI: Delhi’s road to the final in the 2007-08 Ranji Trophy Elite Group has been steadier compared to Uttar Pradesh, which presents a picture of a side yet to realise its potential.

The five-day decider at Wankhede stadium starts from January 16.

Delhi, peaking just in time to stake claim as India’s champion side, has big-match players in Mithun Manhas, Gautam Gambhir, Pradeep Sangwan, pitted against the tenacious U.P., boosted by the form of youngsters like medium-pacer Sudeep Tyagi. With Manhas as anchor in the batting and Gambhir as the spearhead, Delhi broke down Baroda’s resistance in the semifinal at Indore.

Big-match players

Manhas’ patient 97 in the first innings, when no other Delhi batsman crossed the 50-mark, and Gambhir’s rollicking 132 in the second essay set the pace for the chase of 271 runs victory-target. Both are big-match players who thrive under pressure, along with India opener Aakash Chopra.

Seasoned Amit Bhandari and Sumit Narwal are handy with the new ball and all-rounder Rajat Bhatia is an useful medium-pacer averaging 43 plus with the bat in first-class cricket. Delhiwill be boosted by left-arm seamer Sangwan’s return.

Mohd. Kaif singled out youngster Tyagi for special mention.

The Ghaziabad pace bowler, picked up by the U.P. captain after the State selectors dropped him from the under-22 side, has taken 39 wickets already (just behind leading wicket-taker Vinay Kumar of Karnataka) and makes up for the absence of R.P. Singh.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport