Soon after the Rest of India finished a gruelling net session and Saurashtra’s team meeting got over on Friday afternoon, Dharmendra Jadeja walked across to the adjoining dressing room at the Saurashtra Cricket Association stadium and gave Hanuma Vihari a hug.
The duo were teammates the last time Irani Cup - conventionally the most significant First Class fixture on the domestic calendar - was played, in February 2019. Come Saturday, they will be up against each other as Saurashtra will be looking forward to stamp their supremacy against Vihari’s Rest of India outfit.
Despite winning the Ranji Trophy in 2019-20, Saurashtra is no longer the defending Ranji champion. Still, with the BCCI allowing their cancelled Irani tie to take place at the start of the season has been the best motivation for Jaydev Unadkat’s side.
