Just add to it the fact that the Maharashtra team has three big names defected from Mumbai, and suddenly, Mumbai already being in the semifinals counts for nothing.
“Mumbai-Maharashtra matches have always been like India-Pakistan matches.” — Karsan Ghavri, Coach, Mumbai
MUMBAI: Just add to it the fact that the Maharashtra team has three big names defected from Mumbai, and suddenly, Mumbai already being in the semifinals counts for nothing. This was always going to be the match of the Elite Group. It might not get as hostile as it got for Rio Ferdinand when he went to Allen Road wearing the reds. Ferdinand had just moved from Leeds’ United to Manchester Untied and was jeered by the crowd there.
For Sairaj Bahutule, Munaf Patel and Chandrakant Pandit, there will not be a packed crowd when they start their final Ranji Trophy match, against Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium from Tuesday. There won’t be too much at stake either — Mumbai have reached the semifinals already. There’s only a relegation to be prevented.
The trio, that left Mumbai to play for Maharashtra, have not had a special debut season, although coach Pandit has helped the Mahrashtra colts win the Cooch Behar Trophy. On Monday, at the nets, Pandit saw the same Mumbai team he had coached practise in nets other than his. “It’s a different feeling. Although we share the same rapport, practising in different nets is something new,” said Pandit.
For Ghavri, the match is going to be a special contest. “We have made it to the semis, but we are going to come just as hard. So will Maharashtra.” Amol Muzumdar, who hit vital centuries to help Mumbai attain first innings lead against Railways and Bengal, said, “For me, this is another Ranji Trophy Elite Group match.” Having made it to the semis does not take away from the contest. But playing against the former captain is something special for sure. “Sai has been a good competitor; there’s a lot of respect for him. But, this should be an interesting match,” said Muzumdar. Most of the Mumbai side will be playing against Bahutule for the first time.
Skipper Nilesh Kulkarni, who has been a spin bowling partner too, did not see reasons for any bitterness. “There will be no verbal war,” said Kulkarni, “You have got to respect somebody who has served Mumbai cricket for more than a decade.” Maharashtra coach Darren Holder has seen his team improve constantly. “They are improving and relegation is not on our minds,” said Holder.
Mumbai: (From) Nilesh Kulkarni (Capt), Vinayak Mane, Vinit Indulkar, Amol Muzumdar, Nishit Shetty, Omkar Khanvilkar, Ramesh Powar, Vinayak Samant (w/k), Usman Malvi, Aavishkar Salvi, Abhijit Shetye, Swapnil Hazare, Bhavin Thakkar, Wilkin Mota, Sahil Kukreja, Parag Madkaikar, Sushant Marathe.
Maharashtra: (From) Sairaj Bahutule, Dheeraj Jadhav, Abhijit Kale, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Munaf Patel, Anupam Sanclecha, Satyajit Satbhai (w/k), AS Raut, K M Jadhav, Yogesh Pawar, Man Singh, Ramesh Nigde, Ranjit Khirid, Dhruv Mohan, Kaushik Aphale.
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