Bengal start as favourites in East Zone T20 meet

KOLKATA: It was so near yet so far for Bengal. In spite of making the last four, the team's campaign ended in a sour note as they caved in within three days to go down to Delhi in the Ranji Trophy semifinals last month.

But it's time now to make a fresh start for Manoj Tiwary-led side as Bengal open campaign against Odisha in the

Syed Mushtaq Ali East Zone

T20 meet at JSCA stadium in Ranchi on Monday.

Bengal have always dominated the zonal meet and although the team has not fared well always in the longer format of the domestic competition, they have done reasonably well in the shorter formats in recent times.

Not only have they won the zonal meet, the Tiwary-led East Zone side clinched the All-India T20 meet too last time. In spite of missing bigwigs Mohammad Shami and Wriddhiman Saha, Bengal will once again start as favourites in the week-long tournament.

With the IPL auction scheduled at the end of this month, all the players will be eager to prove their worth and catch the fancy of the franchises who will definitely look out for some unknown faces to boost their sides.

However, skipper Tiwary ruled out the IPL auction factor. "To be honest, we are not thinking of that (auction) now. That will happen or not happen when the time comes, but we are living in the present, focusing on this tournament only," he said.

Odisha have not done well in the Ranji Trophy finishing with just six points from six of their Group 'C' matches. Experienced players such as Govinda Poddar, Biplab Samantray, Basant Mohanty and Aravinda Singh would also miss Monday's tie as they are busy plying for their employers in office matches.

But still Bengal are not taking the rivals any lightly. "T20 is such a format where any one player on his day can change the fortune of a match. Hence we have to be cautious," Tiwary stated. It will be a good opportunity for some Bengal youngsters to prove their worth too.

Vivek Singh, making a comeback to Bengal after a year's stint with the Railways, should be hungry for runs and be ready to provide the team a flying start up the order. Pramod Chandila is another batsman making a comeback after not finding a berth in the Ranji side. The young spinning duo of Sumanta Gupta and Anurag Tiwary should also try to capitalize on whatever chances that might come their way to leave a mark.

Pacers Sayan Ghosh and Mukesh Kumar had missed out on action during the Ranji matches and hence will be eager to provide good support to the side's main pace weapon Ashok Dinda.

Much will however, depend on in-form middle-order batsman Anustuph Majumder, who is expected to play the finishers role. However, it will be Tiwary's experience, who had represented three IPL franchises so far, that should keep Bengal ahead of the other sides in the competition.