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Mumbai-morning blues

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Posted: Jan 02, 2008 at 0000 hrs IST

2007 is over and bad dreams have vanished with every cracker burnt in Mumbai. The Mumbai team though will still be mourning - coming into the new year, as their dreams went up in smoke. After failing to qualify for the Ranji Trophy semi-finals in this edition, the holders will definitely be hoping that the coming year will be brighter than the last. Dropped catches, unfriendly pitches, poor shot-selection, lack of form were the common themes inside the Mumbai dressing room this season. However, it’s all over, the khadoos word didn’t last long in Mumbai’s cricket dictionary especially after the way Saurashtra’s Shitanshu Kotak displayed some khadoosgiri of his own. While other state teams battle, Devendra Pandey,tries to thread bare the performances of Mumbai’s players in a post-Ranji post-mortem.

Amol Muzumdar
(7M, 11 Inn; 502 Runs, Avg 62.75)

Like all previous years, Muzumdar was the mainstay of Mumbai’s batting. Though the veteran lacked form in the beginning, the skipper came back strongly towards the middle of the season. His 502 runs from seven matches with three half centuries and one hundred with an average of 62.75 though couldn’t help Mumbai reach the semi-finals. His captaincy and decision-making also came under scanner especially after giving opponents the chance to bat first on a bat-friendly wicket.

Murtuza Hussain
(4M; Wkts: 17; Best: 6/58)

n The 21-year-old was the find in the Mumbai side for this season. His good temperament and steady nerves in crucial situations impressed everyone. Though he got his break late, the Indian Oil spearhead proved instrumental in Mumbai’s dramatic win over Rajasthan. With most senior bowlers injured, Hussain took up the responsibility and has led the bowling attack impressively this season.

Ajinkya Rahane
(7M, 12 Inn ; 487 Runs, Avg 48.70)

Mumbai had high hopes from the talented opener after his good showing in Mohd. Nissar Trophy and Irani Trophy. With Wasim Jaffer and Sahil Kukreja up the order, Rahane had to bat one-drop in a couple of matches which mean the 19-year-old took time to settle in. However later the 19-year-old fought back as he slammed two half centuries and one century. Though Rahane enjoyed a good reputation on the local circuit as a very good fielder, he was guilty of dropping crucial catches - his six spills proving vital in the end.

Sahil Kukreja
(7M, 11 Inn; 487 Runs, Avg 48.70)

The right-hander started with a bang - 199 against Delhi early in the season, and followed it with two half centuries, but his performance disappointed as the year progressed. With senior-partner Wasim Jaffer out for national duty, Kukreja took up responsibility well but consistency in scores eluded the 22-year-old.

Rohit Sharma
(5M, 7 Inn ; 191 Runs, Avg 27.28)

He was the biggest disappointment of the season, especially, after his good show in the international matches. The 20-year-old founded himself lacking in form when his team had high hopes from him. His average of 27.28 hardly helped his reputation following his 591 runs last season. The Borivali boy needs to get over his Twenty20 success and score runs by the hordes in longer games to get into big business.

Ajit Agarkar
(5M, 6 Inn; 260 Runs, Avg 43.33; Wkts: 10)

Though he has experience of bowling at the international level, Mumbai’s spearhead will be left ruing his disappointing run. Like Sharma in batting, the team had big hopes from the medium-pacer in bowling. On a green surface he looked ordinary and his line and length was missing time again and again.

Abhishek Nayar
(7M, 9 Inn ; 324 Runs, Avg 36.00; Wkts: 16)

More or less, the all-rounder justified his place in the side. Though his attacking game came under criticism, he has been the wicket-taking bowler for Mumbai this season. It’s better to leave him alone, his skipper Muzumdar had once said. The 24-year-old needs to spend time at the crease and be patient.

Prashant Naik
(4M, 6 Inn; 206 Runs, Avg 41.20)

Unfortunately, injury didn’t allow him to play the last three matches for Mumbai. After being successful in batting down the order, the team management took a gamble by promoting him at number 3 as Rohit Sharma was struggling to find form. However, the youngster failed to deliver batting higher up the order and later was injured before Rajasthan game.

Vinayak Samant
(7M, 8 Inn; 171 Runs, Avg 28.50)

Even the most reliable man in the team found it tough this season after the wicket-keeper failed to collect some easy chances. His batting was never a big issue for the side but his presence behind the stumps started on a high note, but dipped in performance. However like other teammates, this veteran too is going through bad form and poor shot selection.

Ramesh Powar
(7M, 8 Inn ; 202 Runs, Avg 25.25; Wkts: 24)

His superb hundred against Maharashtra was overshadowed after he played a bad shot with Mumbai seven men down and needing 50 runs more to take innings lead.

His performance came under doubt after he went wicket-less against Saurashtra but he has been the seasoned performer for Mumbai over years.

Iqbal Abdulla
(4M, 6 Inn; 63 Runs, Avg 15.75; Wkts 9)

The much hyped 18-year-old was brought in as veteran Nilesh Kulkarni’s successor. However he had an average outing. Though he bowled a decent line, the youngster couldn’t match up to his senior when it came to wickets. However, later he was dropped and now has been selected for India U-19 and is playing the tri-series in South Africa.

Avishkar Salvi
(3M; Wkts: 11)

Whenever the tall medium-pacer begins to look impressive, he gets injured. After recovering form his foot injury, Salvi suffered a lower back injury before the Maharashtra game. He looked to have regained his old touch and was generating bounce from good length.

Wasim Jaffer
(2M, 4 Inn ; 139 Runs, Avg 34.75)

For this India opener, Ranji matches came in like practice games before he went to play memorably against Pakistan in the home Test series. His presence helped his team mate Sahil Kukreja and Ajinkya Rahane.

Vinit Indulkar
(2M, 3 Inn; 76 Runs, Avg 38.00)

His brilliant show in local matches brought him the spot in the Ranji squad and with Naik getting injured, Indulkar became the perfect choice for coach Praveen Amre & Co. He proved to be a good fielder but while batting one bad decision against Saurashtra ended his season.

Bhavesh Patel
(1M; Wkts:1)

An outstanding fielder and decent leg-spinner, he was picked and later dropped. Bhavesh got to a chance to bowl against a good batting side like Delhi but could manage only one wicket.

Usman Malvi
(1M, Wkts: 3)

He was brought in as an urgent replacement after Avishkar Salvi, Rajesh Verma and Ajit Agarkar were out due to injuries. Had a satisfactory show but was later dropped in the last match as the team decided to go with other medium-pacer Mundeep Mangela.

Mundeep Mangela
(1M, Wkts: 5)

His first five-wicket wouldn’t be as memorable to the youngster as he’d wish since Mumbai failed to take the first innings lead in the last match. With Saurashtra’s Shitanshu Kotak hogging the limelight batting for two days, Mangela’s 5/105 went in vain.

Nilesh Kulkarni
(IM, Wkts: 1)

Finally, the selectors took a U-turn after youngster Abdulla failed to get the breakthroughs. On the Wankhede wicket where batsman celebrated Christmas, Kulkarni’s presence could provide no joy for Mumbai.

Rajesh Verma
(1 M, Wkts: 2)

He has been the injury prone bowler for Mumbai in the recent past. After his Irani Trophy success, Mumbai kept their fingers crossed when Verma bowled. However, Verma suffered from a groin injury and was advised to rest for two weeks.

Hiken Shah
(1M, 2 Inn; 33 Runs, Avg 33.00)

Despite being in the squad, the southpaw got only one chance to play against Rajasthan. Later, with in-form Vinit coming into the squad, he had to continue on the bench.

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