High hopes from Gujarat-25 team

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat's Ranji team, led-by Parthiv Patel, did all the hard work but faltered at the final hurdle when they lost to Mumbai in their final league match in Valsad.
However, hopes are high from the Gujarat's under-25 team which entered the final of the CK Nayudu Trophy after defeating mighty Karnataka in the semifinal.
From Wednesday, Dhruv Raval-led U-25 team will take on Maharastra in the four-day encounter to be played at the Motera 'B' Stadium.
All eyes will be on Gujarat's star performers. Leading from the front is Gujarat skipper Dhruv who has hit with 494 runs including three centuries and a 50 and also accounting for 21 victims behind the stump.
Also, Himalay Barad has been key batsman for the home team hitting with 504 runs, including two hundreds, while medium-pacers Bhavesh (20 wickets) and Kamlesh (15), along with left-arm spinner Parth Parikh (14) have looked after the bowling department.
Even coach Chetan Mankad praised his boy's show so far. "It's been a fantastic performance by the players. We got a very talented set of players and they are developing well."
Playing at home ground will surely shift the advantage in Gujarat's favour and hopes will be high that this team goes all the way.