Blog Posts by Skandan Sampath

AS ONE walks in through the Vinoo Mankad gate at the Wankhede Stadium, the ticket counter on the left is manned by a gentleman in charge of selling the paper that authorizes entry into the stadium for the big ticket final- Mumbai Vs Saurashtra. A smart alec offers him a 50 rupee note for a ticket that costs Rs. 150.

Like the man was going to buy that.

A first class pass.After returning the cash, without a ticket, he returns to his duties, giving away tickets to fans who are willing to pay the right price. Frisking is a routine affair, and once the men in the black safari suits are satisfied with  the contents of your baggage, the ‘first class’ ticket allows you to enjoy the biggest first class experience that Indian cricket has to offer — a Ranji Trophy final.

Past the food counters are fans posing to take pictures below the board that says Sachin Tendulkar stand, which is locked and empty. At least in the morning. As the deep throats in the North Stand chant his name, the little man goes about his duties

Read More »from Around the Wankhede

Mumbai:  Dhawal Kulkarni was a happy man after taking 4/24 against Saurashtra on day one of the 2012-13 Ranji Trophy final at the Wankhede Stadium.

“I am very happy. Would have been great if I would have got a fifer. I enjoyed taking all four wickets today,” said Kulkarni right after stumps.

“It was a good decision to win the toss and bowl first. The pitch was great for pacers, and the moisture in it helped us a bit. It will become fast, as it it turns hard. Spinners should have a role on day four and five,” said the right-arm pacer when asked about the pitch.

Saurashtra skipper Jaydev Shah admitted that things didn’t go right for his side.

“The toss was important. It wasn’t easy to score runs. This wicket is for fast bowlers. Mumbai got the right breakthrough at the right time. I think 200-250 would have been a  good total,” Shah said when asked about his side’s below-par total of 148 all out.

When asked about his decision to bat at No.6

“I had viral fever. That’s the reason why I came down

Read More »from Kulkarni: Pitch was great for pacers

Mumbai: While Mumbai look to pick up their 40th Ranji Trophy title, their skipper Ajit Agarkar, is particularly happy about the presence of one man in the dressing room.

On Mumbai's road to the final

I am very happy with the way we have gone so far. We never had a perfect game. The one against Baroda was the easiest. Had to scrape through in most.  Hope that we play well. From struggling a little bit to qualify, to being in the final. Very happy with the way we are. Looking forward to the final.

Final Preview: Mumbai vs Saurashtra
Jaydev Shah: Wish Pujara and Jadeja were here

On opponents Saurashtra

For anyone to reach the final, it is not easy. We don't underestimate anyone. Any opposition in the final is dangerous. Must be at your best. It's a one-off game.

On Sachin Tendulkar's presence

We have the great man. Sachin's presence in the dressing room helps. We are very happy that he is part of the squad. He helps the younger guys out. We have been lucky enough to have him. The timing is right.

Read More »from Agarkar: Lucky to have Sachin

Mumbai: Ahead of their historic Ranji Trophy final against 39-time champions Mumbai, Saurashtra skipper Jaydev Shah admitted that the presence of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja would have given his team a lot of mental satisfaction. The two players are away on national duty.

On Saurashtra being in the final

Big opportunity for us. It is a big game for us. Mumbai is a very experienced side. Get a good start, best effort in the first inning.

Final Preview: Mumbai vs Saurashtra

On Pujara and Jadeja's absence

It is Pujara's birthday today. He sent us his best wishes for the final. It is a very huge void to fill. They were really doing welll. Can't help it if they are away on national duty. If they were in the side, we would have got a lot of mental satisfaction. The opponents, too would have felt the pressure. It is fine. We have to fight without them.

On pressure

The challenge is not to take the pressure. It is the first final of our careers. We must focus hard and do well. I think,

Read More »from Jaydev Shah: Wish Pujara and Jadeja were here

Rajkumar College is a school in Rajkot.

As you enter the campus, you can see time frozen in brick and cement. Walking towards its cricket ground, you see little boys running around in their games hour. Don’t worry, they’ll leave the turf wicket alone. Follow the perimeter of the outfield. Look at the scoreboard. Ignore the fact that you polished your shoes in the morning. Watch out for a concrete platform, with three rows of steps in front, surrounded by trees. As the sun warms your back, make your way to the pavilion. Just another school cricket ground being described. Right?

Not quite.

“You are at the place where Ranjitsinhji learnt his cricket”, exclaims Jaidevsinhji Jadeja. The concrete platform (pic below) used to be a pavilion, where the man who invented the leg glance sat, waiting for his turn to bat. As a school boy, before Principal Macnaughton took him away to England.

One day after Saurashtra defeated Punjab to enter the 2012-13 Ranji Trophy final, Yahoo! Cricket decided to Read More »from Revisiting Ranji

Shitanshu Kotak — "If I had done the NCA coaching course as a player, I would have played for India"When one watches Shitanshu Kotak bat, it is clear that he is a batsman who is not in a hurry. Bow-legged, and with an on-field gait that sees his shoulders move up and down. Kotak shows the bowler his stumps as he runs in, before shuffling in, back foot moving to cover off, middle and leg. Front foot moving in the direction of the ball.

By his own admission, he is better when he plays down the ground, and on the leg-side. The off-side is neither a strength nor a weakness. He does whatever it takes to stay at the wicket, and will stay there at any cost. His idea is simple, the longer he stays at the crease, the more he frustrates the bowler. You heard it from the grinder.

That’s his style, and he doesn’t care about what other people think.

After 20 years in First Class cricket, the 40-year-old opening batsman Kotak has seen the Ranji Trophy format change, has travelled around the country and the world, thanks to the game of cricket, which in his own words, means everything to him. He

Read More »from Confessions of a veteran stone-waller

Day 4 | Day 3 | Day 2 | Day 1

Rajkot: “Boys. We have made it to the Ranji Trophy finals”, said Jaydev Unadkat at the team huddle, before the entire team began hooting and cheering. And, why not. To dismiss a team before lunch, and to win by 229 runs, is an achievement.

But not bigger than making it to the Ranji Trophy final for the first time in 75 years.

When the bell rang to announce the start of play on the final day. Mandeep Singh and Ravi Inder Singh made their way to the crease and started well. Unadkat was guilty of bowling short, and Mandeep had no trouble pulling him away to the fence. It was clear that a day five pitch would have something for the spinners, and when the hosts brought them on, the Punjabis began to fall apart. Without offering a fight.

At 09:45 AM, Mandeep Singh got into deep trouble, when he decided to offer his front pad to Vishal Joshi. What he didn’t fathom was the turn. The ball went through his legs to hit the stumps. As he walked off, Mandeep knew that it Read More »from Ranji Trophy: Saurashtra end 75-year wait

Rajkot: Cricket is a game, where the feeling of deja vu rules.

Lady Luck had decided to watch the match from Saurashtra's dressing room on day three. One day later, she decided to reward Punjab for their hard work in the 2012-13 Ranji Trophy semi-final on day four, at the Saurashtra Cricket Association stadium.

At 102/1, the hosts had moved on, after losing opener Sagar Jogiyani to Bipul Sharma's guile. Shitanshu Kotak carried on, doing what he does best. Blocking and driving, and testing the bowler's patience, as he has been doing for the last twenty years.

Kotak was helped in part by Harbhajan Singh, who dropped the left-hander when he was four runs away from a half-century. The veteran had Rahul Dave for company for about 19 overs, before Punjab skipper Harbhajan Singh sent the latter indoors.

The Saurashtra opener, who requested Mandeep Singh to wear his shades, behind his head, saying it was distracting, would go on to celebrate a half-century. Saurashtra's captain Jaydev Shah then

Read More »from One big final day for Saurashtra and Punjab