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PK, Ravikant hold the key for UP
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Uttar Pradesh seem determined to collect full points against Vidarbha when the two sides meet each other in the four-day crucial Central Zone Col CK Nayudu Under-22 Trophy league match, beginning on Wednesday, at the OEF Stadium in Kanpur.
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Uttar Pradesh seem determined to collect full points against Vidarbha when the two sides meet each other in the four-day crucial Central Zone Col CK Nayudu Under-22 Trophy league match, beginning on Wednesday, at the OEF Stadium in Kanpur.
The last-minute induction of all-rounder Praveen Kumar and former India under-19 skipper Ravikant Shukla in the team on Tuesday have boosted the confidence of UP’s skipper Tahir Abbas in the do or die battle.
Both the teams have six points each from three outings so far and the winners of this match will qualify for the knock-out. The presence of both Praveen and Ravikant may force middle order batsman Arish Alam and seemer Sudip Tyagi
to sit on the benches in this match.
Obviously, all eyes will be on Vidarbha’s Faiz Fazal, who had scored a double century against Uttar Pradesh last season. “He (Fazal) will be our main target, and if we get him early in the match it will be a big success for us,” said UP manager Mohsin Raza.
Coach Rohit Talwar didn’t appear confident with the team’s batting display in the match against Madhya Pradesh, but hoped that boys will do better this time. He, however, accepted that presence of Praveen Kumar and Ravikant would certainly make a big difference to the team.
Vidarbha’s coach VC Thool claimed that his team was well balanced. “We don’t have big names, but the boys are capable enough to do well here,” he said, adding, “Induction of Praveen and Ravikant in the UP team has changed our view about the hosts side. Now they look more strong.”
