KOLKATA: A year back, Bengal scored a unique record when all their nine batters hit half-centuries in the Ranji Trophy quarter-final against Jharkhand in Bengaluru.
In a quirky coincidence, the two sides are back facing each other at the same stage — only this time at the Eden Gardens from Tuesday.
Jharkhand will surely aim for revenge, but going by present form they will need to lift their game by a few notches to overcome an upbeat Bengal at home.
Although both sides are coming on the back of defeats in their last league stage matches, Bengal topped their Elite Group ‘A’ enjoying a six-match unbeaten run before suffering their only reverse against Odisha last week.
The team will be boosted by the inclusion of pacer Mukesh Kumar and Shahbaz Ahmed, both of whom missed the last match doing duty for the national side.
Bengal are again likely to go in with a four-prong pace attack with Ishan Porel, Akash Deep, who has recovered from concussion suffered in the last match, and Mukesh Kumar.
Keeping in mind a number of left-handers in the Jharkhand side, the team management is mulling playing a left-handed pacer in Geet Puri also.
Bengal’s worry, however, lies in the batting order as they have failed to arrive at a stable opening pair till now.
The inclusion of Kazi Junaid Saifi will see another new opening partner for Abhimanyu Easwaran. Much will depend on Saifi, who has been among runs at the U-25 level this season, to give Bengal the right start in this five-day encounter.
Shahbaz’s return should boost the Bengal lower order along with wicketkeeper-batter Abhishek Porel while crisis-man Anushtup Majumder getting fit again for this tie should be a matter of relief for coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla. There’s a thought to play Sumanta Gupa as an extra batter too.
Jharkhand attack will depend on their spin duo of Anukul Roy and Shahbaz Nadeem. Although the Eden track might not support their trick, the duo can turn dangerous on any wicket with Nadeem already picking up 41 wickets and Roy 25 this season so far.
Their batting will be spearheaded by experienced Saurabh Tiwary who has got more than 650 runs in seven Ranji matches. Skipper Virat Singh is also capable of playing long innings which will be crucial in a knockout game.
With both sides missing out on a Ranji title for long, the urge will be high among the boys in both camps to make it count this season.
