Ranji Trophy 2017/18: We Didn't Capitalise on the Start We Got - Manoj Tiwary

Published - 20 Dec 2017, 11:25 AM | Updated - 22 Aug 2024, 11:47 PM

Manoj Tiwary might be called in the playing XI to replace Yuvraj Singh (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Had just the pre-match comments won the game for a side, Bengal would have made it the finals of the Ranji Trophy 2017/18, but it wasn’t the case.

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Ranji Trophy 2017-18, Semi-final, Delhi Vs Bengal, Gautam Gambhir, Kunal Chandela, Rajneesh Gurbani, Karnataka Vs Vidarbha — Photo Credit: AFP.

They let the advantage slip from their hands when they lost two late wickets on the first day of the game and again when they dropped a catch of Gautam Gambhir when he was yet to touch the 50-run mark.

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Gambhir, along with opening partner Kunal Chandela, went on to share 232 runs for the first wicket, which was the most effective partnership of Delhi’s innings. Riding on the opening partnership, Delhi posted a total of 398 runs on the board in its first innings which surprisingly turned out to be a match-winning total.

Manoj Tiwary, who had termed his side as favourites, after the game also credited Delhi opening pair and said,

“We did remind them. There is no two ways about it. I haven’t said that we we were going to beat them hands down. Let them say whatever they want to. It’s our fault and we didn’t capitalise on the start we got. Obviously, we have to disturb the batsmen in the middle. But we have to give credit to their openers who played really well. But that’s the way the game goes.”

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Photo credits: (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)

It was not tough conditions for the batsmen, as it was the same pitch where Delhi’s lower-order batsmen had batted against Mohammed Shami and Ashok Dinda with the new ball in the morning session. It was in the afternoon when Saini and Khejroliya made the ball talk and won the game for Delhi.

With this win, Delhi qualified for the finals of Ranji Trophy after a brief period of 10 seasons. It was much special for skipper Rishab Pant, as this is the first season where he is leading the side taking over the captaincy from Ishant Sharma – who will be unavailable for the final as well due to international commitments.

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