Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Himachal Pradesh eyes knock-out berth, Hyderabad seeks strong finish
Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Himachal Pradesh eyes knock-out berth, Hyderabad seeks strong finish
Himachal Pradesh, second in the table with 21 points from five matches, is eyeing a knock-out berth, while Hyderabad, placed sixth with nine points from an equal number of games, will be looking to finish the season on a high when the two teams clash in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad on Thursday.
It has been a disappointing run so far for Hyderabad, with the only silver lining being its ability to stay in the Elite Group. A win, two draws, and two losses are not the results that head coach Vineet Saxena would have hoped for at the start of the season.
Clearly, the inability of the bowling attack to deliver match-winning spells consistently has been Hyderabad’s major setback. With left-arm pacer C.V. Milind, arguably one of its most consistent performers and someone who also contributes with the bat, leading the side, the team will be hoping for two outright wins in the remaining two games (the last being an away match against Vidarbha).
However, the batter-friendly pitch at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium is likely to test the bowling attacks of both sides.
“We are all aware of the typical nature of an Uppal wicket, but we are eager to put up an improved, all-round performance. There are no injury concerns,” said Vineet.
In terms of batting, seasoned opener and left-hander Tanmay Agarwal, the leading run-scorer across all groups this season with 615 runs, along with consistent top-order batter K. Himateja (416 runs from five games), will be pivotal. Meanwhile, the bowling attack will hinge on the consistency of the pace battery, led by Milind, and the left-arm spin duo of Tanay Thyagarajan (24 wickets) and G. Aniketh Reddy (17 wickets).
On the other hand, Himachal Pradesh will rely on the form of experienced campaigners Rishi Dhawan, Prashant Chopra, and Ankit Kalsi with the bat. The bowling department will be anchored by pacer Divesh Sharma, Vinay Galetiya, and spinners Prashant Chopra, left-armer Mayank Dagar, and off-spinner Mukul Negi.
