Inexperienced pitch provides intrigue as Saurashtra takes on Gujarat in Ranji quarters

Ravi Bishnoi’s availability for the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal in opposition to Saurashtra can be a lift for Gujarat.
| Photograph Credit score: File picture: VIJAY SONEJI

The pitches on the Niranjan Shah Stadium, situated close to the Rajkot-Jamnagar freeway, often behave in one in all two methods. There are both raging turners that permit spinners to make merry. Or there are featherbeds that facilitate tedious run-fests.

On Friday, nevertheless, it was a enjoying floor with an excellent protecting of grass that greeted Saurashtra and Gujarat forward of their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal. Shocking sufficient for Gujarat coach Ramesh Powar to casually quip to one of many Saurashtra gamers throughout a apply session that he had by no means seen a lot grass on a pitch in Rajkot.

When Saurashtra coach Niraj Odedra was requested about Powar’s studying, he nodded in settlement. “Even we’re stunned to see that a lot grass. I agree with Ramesh. I’ve not seen a lot grass right here in Rajkot. However with a impartial curator there, let’s simply say it is going to be a real pitch. It could assist batters and pacers on the primary couple of days and from the third day onwards, there can be a bit little bit of help for the spinners as effectively,” Odedra remarked after Saurashtra’s apply session.

If among the grass is shaved off earlier than the toss on Saturday morning for the spinners to have a better say from day one, neither group can be complaining. Though Ravindra Jadeja isn’t accessible for Saurashtra, which is led by left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat, the host has an armoury of spin bowlers in Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, Sammar Gajjar, Yuvrajsinh Dodiya and Parth Bhut to select from. For Gujarat, apart from the presence of left-arm spinner Siddharth Desai, who took 9 wickets in an innings in opposition to Uttarakhand just lately, the supply of leggie Ravi Bishnoi following his involvement in India’s T20I collection victory over England is a lift.

“Bishnoi has bowled fairly effectively at any time when he has performed for us,” Gujarat skipper Chintan Gaja mentioned. “Sure, each groups have superb spinners. However I believe quick bowlers can be dominating this match.”