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NEW DELHI: The Ranji Trophy semi-final clash between Vidarbha and Madhya Pradesh promises to be a battle of resilience and skill as two formidable teams lock horns at the VCA Stadium from Saturday.
Vidarbha, known for their dominance at home, will face a resolute Madhya Pradesh side eager to upset the odds and secure a spot in the final.
Vidarbha, two-time champions, have showcased their dominance at the VCA Stadium this season, winning three out of four matches with convincing margins.
Led by a formidable batting lineup featuring veterans like Karun Nair and import Dhruv Shorey, Vidarbha’s collective contribution with the bat has been their biggest strength. The duo, along with top-order batsmen Atharva Taide and skipper Akshay Wadkar, have consistently delivered match-winning performances, bailing the team out of challenging situations.
On the bowling front, Vidarbha boasts the talents of pacer Aditya Thakare and left-arm spinner Aditya Sarwate, who have been instrumental in dismantling opposition batting lineups throughout the season. Sarwate’s recent four-wicket burst against Karnataka exemplifies their ability to turn the tide of the game in Vidarbha’s favor.
However, Madhya Pradesh, the 2022 champions, enter the semifinals with a renewed hunger for success. Despite facing challenges in the league stage, they showcased their resilience by securing crucial wins and battling fiercely in other matches to gain first-innings leads.
Led by the in-form Venkatesh Iyer, who has amassed 528 runs at an average of 52, Madhya Pradesh’s batting lineup looks formidable. Supported by Himanshu Mantri and Yash Dubey, they pose a significant threat to Vidarbha’s bowling attack.
In the bowling department, Madhya Pradesh will rely on the versatility of Kumar Kartikeya, who has contributed 38 wickets this season. Backed by veteran off-spinner Saransh Jain and left-arm pacer Kulwant Khejroliya, Kartikeya will play a crucial role in containing Vidarbha’s strong batting lineup.
However, beyond the players, the presence of astute tactician Chandrakant Pandit as Madhya Pradesh’s head coach adds another dimension to the contest. With Pandit’s tactical acumen and ability to extract the best from his players under pressure, Madhya Pradesh will look to capitalize on every opportunity to outsmart Vidarbha on their home turf.
Teams (from):
Vidarbha: Atharva Taide, Dhruv Shorey, Yash Rathod, Karun Nair, Akshay Wadkar (wk/captain), Mohit Kale, Aditya Sarwate, Harsh Dubey, Yash Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Aditya Thakare, Faiz Fazal, Akshay Wakhare, Sanjay Raghunath, Rajneesh Gurbani, Lalit M Yadav, Siddhesh Wath, Jitesh Sharma, Darshan Nalkande, Shubham Dubey.
Madhya Pradesh: Yash Dubey, Himanshu Mantri (wk), Harsh Gawli, Shubham S Sharma (captain), Venkatesh Iyer, Sumit Kushwah, Saransh Jain, Anubhav Agarwal, Kumar Kartikeya, Avesh Khan, Kulwant Khejroliya, Amarjeet Singh, Aditya Shrivastava, Mihir Hirwani, Rishabh Chouhan, Aryan Pandey.
Match starts at 9.30 AM IST.
(With inputs from PTI)
Vidarbha, known for their dominance at home, will face a resolute Madhya Pradesh side eager to upset the odds and secure a spot in the final.
Vidarbha, two-time champions, have showcased their dominance at the VCA Stadium this season, winning three out of four matches with convincing margins.
Led by a formidable batting lineup featuring veterans like Karun Nair and import Dhruv Shorey, Vidarbha’s collective contribution with the bat has been their biggest strength. The duo, along with top-order batsmen Atharva Taide and skipper Akshay Wadkar, have consistently delivered match-winning performances, bailing the team out of challenging situations.
On the bowling front, Vidarbha boasts the talents of pacer Aditya Thakare and left-arm spinner Aditya Sarwate, who have been instrumental in dismantling opposition batting lineups throughout the season. Sarwate’s recent four-wicket burst against Karnataka exemplifies their ability to turn the tide of the game in Vidarbha’s favor.
However, Madhya Pradesh, the 2022 champions, enter the semifinals with a renewed hunger for success. Despite facing challenges in the league stage, they showcased their resilience by securing crucial wins and battling fiercely in other matches to gain first-innings leads.
Led by the in-form Venkatesh Iyer, who has amassed 528 runs at an average of 52, Madhya Pradesh’s batting lineup looks formidable. Supported by Himanshu Mantri and Yash Dubey, they pose a significant threat to Vidarbha’s bowling attack.
In the bowling department, Madhya Pradesh will rely on the versatility of Kumar Kartikeya, who has contributed 38 wickets this season. Backed by veteran off-spinner Saransh Jain and left-arm pacer Kulwant Khejroliya, Kartikeya will play a crucial role in containing Vidarbha’s strong batting lineup.
However, beyond the players, the presence of astute tactician Chandrakant Pandit as Madhya Pradesh’s head coach adds another dimension to the contest. With Pandit’s tactical acumen and ability to extract the best from his players under pressure, Madhya Pradesh will look to capitalize on every opportunity to outsmart Vidarbha on their home turf.
Teams (from):
Vidarbha: Atharva Taide, Dhruv Shorey, Yash Rathod, Karun Nair, Akshay Wadkar (wk/captain), Mohit Kale, Aditya Sarwate, Harsh Dubey, Yash Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Aditya Thakare, Faiz Fazal, Akshay Wakhare, Sanjay Raghunath, Rajneesh Gurbani, Lalit M Yadav, Siddhesh Wath, Jitesh Sharma, Darshan Nalkande, Shubham Dubey.
Madhya Pradesh: Yash Dubey, Himanshu Mantri (wk), Harsh Gawli, Shubham S Sharma (captain), Venkatesh Iyer, Sumit Kushwah, Saransh Jain, Anubhav Agarwal, Kumar Kartikeya, Avesh Khan, Kulwant Khejroliya, Amarjeet Singh, Aditya Shrivastava, Mihir Hirwani, Rishabh Chouhan, Aryan Pandey.
Match starts at 9.30 AM IST.
(With inputs from PTI)
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