Focus is on Bengal batsmen

Calcutta: The humiliating defeat at the hands of Punjab in their previous match has exposed the chinks in Bengal's batting.

Except for Wriddhiman Saha and Laxmi Ratan Shukla, consistency seems to be the last word for the Bengal batsmen. Even captain Manoj Tiwary has failed to deliver so far, despite getting off to decent starts.

The bowlers, too, have fared no better.

All-rounder Shukla, though, is hopeful of a turnaround in the clash versus Gujarat that starts on Saturday at the Eden.

"It's true that everyone haven't risen to the occasion so far. But I'm quite confident that there will be a collective effort from this game onwards," Shukla said after Bengal's training session on Thursday, at the Eden.

The pitch too, with a fair sprinkling of grass, appears to be a sign of encouragement for the hosts. "It's a sporting track… More like the one where we played against Rajasthan. I feel it will aid us more," Shukla stressed.

Promoting the in-form Saha up the order is one thing the team management may contemplate. The stumper, however, is not too concerned about his batting position.

"I normally like batting up the order. But I'm comfortable anywhere I bat," Saha said.

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