Ranji Trophy 2018/19: Dhawal Kulkarni Out with Injury, Siddhesh Lad to Lead Mumbai

Mumbai suffered a humiliating nine-wicket loss at the hands of Gujarat recently in the Ranji Trophy 2018/19. However, that is not the end to their misery, as now the side faces another blow. Skipper Dhawal Kulkarni has been ruled out due to an ankle injury. Meanwhile, his team is set to take on Maharashtra in their next encounter at the Gahunje Stadium in Pune from December 6.

Skipper Dhawal Kulkarni sidelined with an injury

In Kulkarni’s absence, Siddhesh Lad will lead Mumbai in their crucial fixture. The side is desperate to win to stay in the contention for the knockouts. So far, Mumbai had managed to grab just four points from three games. And hence, they are placed at the no. 6th spot. It is the first time that Lad will be leading Mumbai in Ranji Trophy.

Meanwhile, Lad has often been called the ‘rescue man’ for the Mumbaikars. Time and again the batter has bailed out his team from a problematic situation. In 44 First Class games, Lad has scored 3211 runs at an average of 43.39. He has six tons and 21 fifties to his name.

Lad proud to lead in Ranji Trophy 2018/19

“It’s a proud feeling to be named the Mumbai captain. Mumbai has been led by some very big players in the past, so it’s an achievement for me to lead Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy. I’m geared up for this match because we lost the last game, and are desperate to bounce back. In the absence of many senior players, it will be a challenge for me to lead a bunch of junior, inexperienced, but talented players,” Lad said.

The selectors have taken some strict measures recently. Out of form opener, Akhil Herwadkar struggled to score runs and only managed 101 runs in three games at 16.83 this season. Bhupen Lalwani replaced Herwadkar in the squad. Meanwhile, Lalwani is in fine form and has hit a couple of hundreds in his last two games for Mumbai’s U23 team.

Mumbai squad:

Siddhesh Lad (capt), Aditya Tare, Surya Kumar Yadav, Jay Bista, Shivam Dube, Shivam Malhotra, Eknath Kerkar, Armaan Jaffer, Karsh Kothari, Akash Parkar, Shubham Ranjane, Dhrumil Matkar, Royston Dias, Minad Manjrekar.