KOLKATA: Both Haryana and Bengal are coming on the back of a victory at home when they meet each other in a Ranji Trophy Group ‘A’ encounter at the Ch Bansi Lal Cricket Stadium in Rohtak on Tuesday. But going by present form and performance, Bengal will start as favourites.
Sitting pretty at the top of points with 25 points from five matches, a win against the hosts, who have been inconsistent this season, will confirm Bengal’s knockout berth with a game in hand.
Haryana, with 12 points from five games, will need to lift their game in order to stop the upbeat Bengal boys. The Manoj Tiwary-led side showed character by recording an outright victory against Baroda in the last match in Kalyani after conceding a first-innings lead.
The Bengal pacers – Mukesh Kumar (match-haul of seven wickets), Ishan Porel (match-haul of three wickets) and Akash Deep (match-haul of five wickets) will again be likely to make a difference under favourable conditions. The Rohtak pitch always offers some assistance to fast bowlers and a pace-strong Bengal attack is expected to make the rivals dance to their tune.
It has been learnt that the hosts may opt for a docile track to negate their opponents’ strength. The Bengal team management, however, is prepared for any condition.
The side will miss Shahbaz Ahmed, who has been picked for the ODI series against New Zealand which is starting from Wednesday, on this track. In his absence, left-arm spinner Pradipta Pramanik will return to the squad after one match.
The 24-year-old has done well in the little opportunity that has come his way this season picking up 12 wickets in two matches. With spin expected to come into play in the later part of the match, off-spinner Karan Lal, who grabbed five wickets in his first-class debut match against Nagaland this season, may also get a look-in.
The onus will again be on opener Abhimanyu Easwaran to give the side a good start under trying conditions at Rohtak on the first morning in case Bengal get to bat first. Both skipper Tiwary and Anushtup Majumder getting runs against Baroda in the last match should keep Haryana bowlers a worried lot.
