Ranji Trophy: Chandigarh, Mizoram look to wrap up in style

CHANDIGARH: Placed third in the Plate group and almost out of the race to the knockouts, hosts Chandigarh will aim to wrap up their maiden Ranji Trophy season on a high when they take the field against Mizoram on Tuesday.
Both the teams will however be faced with the challenge of playing in a completely new stadium, the Mahajan Cricket Ground, which is all set to make it Ranji Trophy debut.But does the stadium truly match BCCI's standards, considering the entry to the ground makes it almost impossible for team buses to make their way into it. Well that however, remained unanswered from the organisers.
Coming back to the fixture, it appears to be an exciting clash on the cards with both teams looking to end their campaign on a high.
As Chandigarh pacer Shresth Nirmohi had pointed out after their rain-marred drawn fixture against Puducherry, there is very little they have in their control when it comes to the race to the knock outs is concerned.
"Weather has played a big role in our campaign this season. On two-three occasions we were within sniffing distance of a victory but unfortunately missed out due to the weather. Had we won those matches, we would have been on top of the table," Nirmohi had told TOI.
But with the weathermen predicting a clear weather for the next four days, Nirmohi and Co are a happy unit, "Hopefully we get a full game, it is always exciting to be focused on the contest rather than playing reckless cricket due to weather restrictions."
The home side looks a settled unit with skipper Manan Vohra leading the batting unit alongside the young guns in opener Shivam Bhambri, Ankit Kaushik, Raman Bishnoi and the veteran wicketkeeper-bat Uday Kaul.
The other opener Arslan Khan has been drafted into the Chandigarh under-23 side, and he will be replaced by Gaurav Puri.
The lower middle order is in the safe hands of the all-rounders Bipul Sharma and Gurinder Singh, who also takes care of the spin department with their left-arm spin.
Shresth has taken on the role of being the pace spearhead and he will have the likes of Jagjit Sandhu and Jaskaran Singh.
On the pitch
Senior Mizoram batsman Taruwar Kohli has predicted the pitch as batting friendly, once the moisture dries up but wanted his team's young batters to apply themselves to the situation.
"The pitch looks good, it's a new ground for both the teams. I don't think the Chandigarh team has also played any cricket here. Obviously we have played a lot more games in Sector 16 cricket stadium, that's a familiar ground for most of us," Taruwar told TOI after the team's practice session here on Monday.
"But that's the beauty of the game, and the challenge it throws on the players to adapt to any conditions," he added.
The Mizoram side will be depending heavily on their captain KB Pawan and Taruwar to deliver the goods against the experienced Chandigarh line-up.
Squads
Mizoram: KB Pawan (C), Taruwar Kohli, Lalrinhlua, Bobby Zothansanga, G Lalbiakvela, Parvez Ahmed, Saidingliana Sailo, Jeremy Lalhruaitluanga, K Vanlalruata, Sumit Lama, Abhay, Lalhruaizela, Henry Lalsangzuala, Lalhruaimawia Ralte, Lalruatdika
Chandigarh: Manan Vohra (C), Shivam Bhambri, Jagjit Singh Sandhu, Gurinder Singh, Bipul Sharma, Raman Bishnoi, Ankit Kaushik, Uday Kaul, Gaurav Puri, Shresth Nirmohi, Jaskarandeep Singh Buttar, Jaskaranvir Singh Sohi, Anirudh Kanwar, Arpit Singh, Kunal Mahajan