KOLKATA: Bengal open their domestic season with a clash against Jammu & Kashmir in Elite Group 'C' of the
Vijay Hazare Trophy
(one-dayers) meet in Chennai on Thursday. Provided the elements permit any action.
It has been raining in Chennai for the last three days and neither team got a chance to see the pitch which has been under covers. The players, however, had their fingers crossed as they eagerly looked forward to some play on Thursday.
Bengal are happy to be starting the season with the shorter format in which they have done well in the last couple of seasons. The team is also upbeat after having won a pre-season tournament in Nagpur. Having had sessions with sports psychologist Mugdha Bavare before leaving for Chennai, players are expected to go out with a positive mindset.
Bengal will depend a lot on in-form opener Abhimanyu Easwaran who was among runs for India 'A' against Australia 'A'. The dependable Sudip Chatterjee can also play with a free mind after being caught in two minds when his employee Railways wanted him to represent them this season. Chatterjee, who quit Railways and has taken up a new job, will be keen to play his part as a senior pro.
Skipper
Manoj Tiwary should also look to make a strong statement and get some big scores under his belt after being ignored for the 'A' series as well as the Duleep Trophy.
"I need to do better than last season and at the same time, I need to lead the side well. I want to win trophies for Bengal. All we need to do is execute what we have planned during practice sessions," Tiwary said.
"We have had very good preparations. Vision 2020 consultants (VVS) Laxman sir and (TA) Sekhar sir worked very hard with the side. Sairaj (Bahutule) has also tried to bring the best out of the boys and they have responded well," he added.
If the match does materialise, Tiwary feels the toss will be a crucial factor as the pitch is expected to be a bit damp.
"Winning the toss is important as it gives you a chance to execute your plans better. That gives you a 20 per cent advantage perhaps," he stated.
Bengal are yet to decide on the team combination. "We have not been able to see the pitch. The ground is far from where we are staying. Besides it's been raining and the whole ground is under covers. Only after we see the pitch tomorrow can we think of the playing XI," coach
Sairaj Bahutule said.
Bengal will bank on new-ball bowlers Ashok Dinda and
Ishan Porel to provide the early breakthroughs.
Jammu & Kashmir, on the other hand, will look to make a fresh start under player-cum-mentor
Irfan Pathan. The fact that Dhruv Mahajan, one of J&K's four selectors, resigned alleging interference by Pathan in the state team's selection process shows how serious the former India all-rounder is to deliver.
While
Ian Dev Singh is capable of tearing apart any attack, Pervez Rasool can also turn a match on its head.
It should be a good contest, weather permitting.