Playing in the top-tier for long, Odisha are yet to taste success in terms of winning the championship in any format of the game at the domestic level. In recent years, their quarterfinal finish in the 2019-20 Ranji Trophy, where they lost to Bengal at the DRIEMS ground in Tangi near Cuttack, has been their best closing to a season. And that was pre-Covid era.
During the pandemic, the training and pre-seasons were badly hit and that could be one of the reasons for Odisha failing to build upon that quarterfinal ending. However, with the pandemic situation behind them and under a new and young coach Dinesh Mongia, Odisha are looking forward to shed the status of also-rans this season. Armed with much better pre-season, the Govinda Poddar-led side is better prepared to start their domestic journey with much improved show in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy than their second-last finish above Sikkim in the group last season.
