Focus on Test spots in Irani clash

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An India call-up and regaining form will be on the mind of players from both sides when Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai host Rest of India in the five-day Irani Cup match starting at the Wankhede Stadium here from Wednesday.

Mumbai look a batting-heavy side with Sachin Tendulkar, Wasim Jaffer, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane and in-form skipper Abhishek Nayar in the ranks. Tendulkar will be looking to get into the groove ahead of the four-match Test series against Australia. Sharma, Rahane and Nayar will look to impress selectors including rival coach Vikram Rathore for a Test berth.
With India openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir not doing well, Jaffer is back in the mix. The consistent 34-year-old domestic performer last played for India in a Test at Kanpur five years ago against South Africa.
Dhawal Kulkarni will lead the depleted Mumbai bowling line-up in absence of injured pacers Ajit Agarkar and Zaheer Khan. Javed Khan, Shardul Thakur and Vishal Dabholkar are in their first season though Ankeet Chavan has a fair bit of experience. Kulkarni has been among the wickets off late and will be keenly watched by the selectors.
Sehwag who leads RoI hasn’t been in top form and was dropped from the ODI side against England. But he looks certain to retain his place in the Test side and will utilise the game to regain form.
The Rest also contains openers Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay either of who can open with Sehwag. Vijay was in the Test squad against England but didn’t get a game. Suresh Raina, Manoj Tiwary and Ambati Rayudu will form the middle-order. All of them will be trying to push for Test berths, while Jalaj Saxena also finds a place.
Raina is the top contender for the no. 6 position, if he scores well, though Tiwary, Rahane and Sharma will keep pressure on the Uttar Pradesh batsman.
RoI have a quality attack in S. Sreesanth, Mohammed Shami, Abhimanyu Mithun, Ishwar Pandey, Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha. Sreesanth and Harbhajan, discarded due to fitness and form issues respectively, will be looking for a recall while Ojha needs some crucial match practice.
This is the second Irani Cup tie to be held this season. The Sourav Ganguly headed Cricket Board’s technical committee had suggested that the annual tournament be held after the conclusion of the Ranji Trophy instead of at the beginning of the season.
Last year’s Ranji Trophy winners Rajasthan had lost by an innings to the Rest of India at Bengaluru at the beginning of the season in September, 2012.
The Wankhede pitch has been one of contrasts this season. In four first-class matches played here two produced results.
The last match here ended inside three days, though adjacent an strip will be used this time. The track has grass on it and is likely to assist seamers initially and spinners later on.