THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Time is running out for
Kerala and they need a win sooner than later. Despite getting first-innings lead in three out of the four matches so far, Kerala have not been able to close out games. And the challenge could not get bigger as they face the toppers of Group C, Haryana at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Saturday.
A major worry for Kerala was their fragile batting unit but against
Chhattisgarh
in the last match, the batsmen, led by skipper
Rohan Prem, did exceptionally well and they need to continue their good work against Haryana.
"The batting has clicked in the last match and the good thing was that everyone got runs. So we will be looking to play the same way," said Kerala skipper Rohan Prem on the eve of the match.
It would be interesting to see if Kerala would give attacking batsman Vishnu Vinod a go at the top of the order. Vishnu, who excelled in the CK Nayudu Trophy, came into the side in place of injured VA Jagadeesh and he could inject some momentum into Kerala innings if he gets going.
Seamer Vinod Kumar, who was drafted back into the team after recovering from injury, may also get to make his first-class debut as the seaming partner to
Sandeep Warrier.
The conditions in Jaipur will be familiar to
Sanju Samson as it is the base of his former IPL team Rajasthan Royals. And Sanju would be keen to make most of the batting friendly conditions with a big one against the table toppers.
Kerala's batsmen will have to counter the guile of legspinner
Yuzvendra Chahal, who has risen in stature. Haryana's ascent to the top of the table has been fashioned by the leg-spin of Chahal. He is second on the list of wicket-takers this season with 22 scalps from four matches.
Skipper Mohit Sharma has also done well bagging 16 wickets so far. Sharma will be looking to rally his troops after a first-innings collapse cost them the last match against Andhra.
Apart from the team's cause, Sharma will be trying to get back into the national selectors' radar after having been out of favour of late. Eighteen-year-old opener Shubham Rohilla, who scored his maiden first-class century against Andhra, gives Haryana solidity at the top.
There seems to be no threat of rain and a contest between two good bowling units is likely to produce a result. But one caveat is that the wicket at the Mansingh stadium produced a high-scoring draw between Services and Jammu And Kashmir in the last round.
"We're not worried about the wicket. We will be trying to play to our strengths and hopefully, we will get the desired result this time," said Rohan.
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