North, West in an intriguing Duleep trophy summit clash

Defending champions North Zone team posts the biggest challenge against West Zone team, which made it to the finals after a remarkable victory over lone foreign team England Lions’, as they will fight it out to a great extent to retain their title in the five-day Duleep Trophy final that starts at the Wankhade stadium here on Tuesday.

North Zone team comprises major number of current Ranji champions Delhi state players including captain Mitthun Manhas alongwith openers Aakash Chopra, Shikhar Dhawan and all-rounder Rajat Bhatia. All of them have been big-time performers and can turn the table on opponents at any point of time

The North Zone squad will surely feel the absence of attacking batsman Gautam Gambhir and frontline seamer Pradeep Sangwan as both of them are away in Australia and Malaysia doing their national duties.

Chopra and Manhas, who cracked double centuries each against East Zone, are in tremendous form and their hunger for runs remains the same with saving their best for the last.

“I am enjoying my batting and captaincy,” echoed Manhas on the day before final.

V.R.V. Singh will spearhead the North bowling attack ably supported by Vikramjeet Malik and Bhatia doing their bits later. As for West Zone is concerned, Siddharth Trivedi and Sandeep Jobanputra will lead the seam attack followed by Yusuf Pathan who is in great form right now.

Parthiv might turn towards his state mate to strengthen the attack further by picking Ashraf Makda and Mohnish Parmar.

Skipper Parthiv Patel alongwith opener Wasim Jaffer, Sahil Kukreja Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara proved equal to the task as far as West batting line-up is concerned. West Zone batting has also been bolstered by Jaffer’s comeback

TEAMS (From):

West Zone: Parthiv Patel (capt.), Wasim Jaffer, Ajinkya Rahane, Sahil Kukreja, Yusuf Pathan, Rakesh Dhruv, Sandeep Jobanputra, Siddharth Trivedi, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rakesh Solanki, Mohnish Parmar, Ashraf Makda, Harshad Khadiwale, Samad Fallah. Coach: Pravin Amre.

North Zone: Mithun Manhas (capt.), Aakash Chopra, Shikhar Dhawan, Karan Goel, Yashpal Singh, Rajat Bhatia, Uday Kaul, Amit Mishra, Chetanya Nanda, Vikramjeet Malik, V.R.V. Singh, Joginder Sharma, Ashok Thakur, Paras Dogra, Samiullah Baig, Ravi Inder Singh.

Umpires: A.V. Jayaprakash, Suhas Phadkar. Match referee: D. Vasu.