SURAT: If Mumbai cricket team wins the upcoming Ranji Trophy, the
Diamond City
can share a bit of the credit. Reason: the Mumbai squad has selected a private cricket ground in city's Khajod to practice for its Ranji Trophy matches.
The players along with coach Chandrakant Pandit zeroed in on C B Patel ground at Khajod to practice for the upcoming Ranji Trophy season beginning October 6, as they could not find a cricket ground either in Mumbai or Pune due to heavy rains there.
Apurva Desai, Blevel C coach from the city, played an important role in facilitating the Mumbai cricket team choosing the ground to practice for Ranji Trophy.
Dinesh Kartikh
, who is coached by Desai, and Mumbai squad member Avinash Nair were at the private cricket ground in Khajod for personal training last week. The duo was so impressed with the well-maintained ground and the field that they suggested the Mumbai team visit Surat.
Talking with TOI, Chandrakant Pandit said, "The boys last played against New Zealand in the second week of September and since then they could not get an opportunity to practice on ground due to rains and preparation of fields. We were weighing options to take the squad to Bangalore and other places for practising. But, Avinash Nair, who was in Surat, showed us the ground pictures and we were convinced."
Pandit added, "It is one of the best grounds, I have ever seen. The boys have been practising six hours a day. The wicket is awesome and well-maintained. I wonder why the players from Surat do not make up to Ranji. I plan to get the boys from my cricket academy here to practice. Even we can arrange tournaments between my academy and the rest in Surat."
Pandit said the Mumbai cricket team will face
Tamil Nadu in their opening Ranji Trophy match at Lalhi in Rohtak on October 6.
Sources said efforts were made to convince Surat District Cricket Association (SDCA) for giving Lalbhai Contractor Stadium to Mumbai squad. However, the ground is under maintenance.
"This is first time that Mumbai squad is in the city for practising. We thank the rain gods, which allowed us to host them at the ground. The boys from our academy got an opportunity to play with the Mumbai boys," said Apurva Desai,
BCCI level C coach.
Jatin Paranjape, BCCI national selector, told TOI, "This is an amazing field and we will keep coming to Surat for practising."
Kamlesh Patel, owner of C B Patel ground, said, "We worked 24x7 for three days to prepare the wicket, after getting confirmation from the Mumbai team. The wicket is prepared by Nisarg Patel and he has done a tremendous job. Everyone from the Mumbai team is impressed and enjoyed practising on the field."
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