Cricket

The Ranji Trophy quarterfinals are set to begin across India from Friday, with eight teams vying for a spot in the semifinals. Among the contenders are familiar faces like Mumbai, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, as well as giant-killers Vidarbha and Baroda.Mumbai, the 41-time champions, will face Baroda in a depleted state, missing key players like Shreyas Iyer and Shivam Dube. However, they will be bolstered by the inclusion of U-19 World Cup star Musheer Khan. Mumbai will rely on their in-form opener Bhupen Lalwani and key weapon Mohit Avasthi to lead their charge.Vidarbha, the only team apart from Mumbai to have recorded five wins in the group stage, will take on a formidable Karnataka side. Vidarbha will miss the services of seasoned campaigner Faiz Fazal, but they will be confident playing in their backyard. Skipper Akshay Wadkar, Dhruv Shorey, and former Karnataka batter Karun Nair will be key for Vidarbha, while Aditya Sarwate and Aditya Thakare will handle the bowling responsibilities.Karnataka, who finished second in Group C behind Tamil Nadu, will feel the absence of Devdutt Padikkal, but they have capable batsmen like Manish Pandey and Sharath Srinivas. Pacer Vysakh Vijaykumar's all-round brilliance will also be a crucial factor for Karnataka.Saurashtra, led by Cheteshwar Pujara, will be confident against Tamil Nadu, who have made it to the Ranji Trophy knockouts for the first time in six years. Pujara has been in prolific form this season, amassing 780 runs, while skipper Arpit Vasavada and Prerak Mankad have also contributed with the bat. Saurashtra's Dharmendrasinh Jadeja is in contention for the most wickets this season, with 39 scalps.Tamil Nadu, who finished second behind Vidarbha in Group A, will rely on Narayan Jagadeesan and Baba Indrajith for runs. Spinners R Sai Kishore and S Ajith Ram have been their key wicket-takers.At the Holkar Stadium in Indore, hosts Madhya Pradesh will face a dangerous Andhra side, who are coming off a three-match unbeaten run. Ricky Bhui has been the season's best performer with the bat, while Hanuma Vihari has also made vital contributions. Andhra finished second behind Mumbai in Group B, indicating their form and confidence.Madhya Pradesh, the 2021-22 Ranji Trophy winner, have been unbeaten this season. Venkatesh Iyer and Kumar Kartikeya have been their standout performers.With so much talent on display, the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals promise to be an exciting and closely contested affair.

Mumbai's Ranji Trophy quarter-final aspirations have been dealt a significant blow with the news that key players Shreyas Iyer and Shivam Dube will miss the crucial knockout match due to injuries. Iyer, who has been battling back spasms, will be sidelined, while Dube is out with a side strain.Iyer's absence is particularly disappointing, given his impressive form in recent months. The talented batsman had a strong showing in the Asia Cup and the ODI World Cup, amassing 530 runs in the latter tournament with an impressive average of 66.25. He also made a solid start to the Ranji Trophy season, scoring 91 runs in his only appearance.Dube, on the other hand, has been a revelation for Mumbai this season, striking two centuries and two half-centuries in his six Ranji innings. His aggressive batting style has been a major factor in Mumbai's success, and his absence will be keenly felt.The injuries to Iyer and Dube have left Mumbai with a depleted squad for the quarter-final against Baroda, starting on February 23. The team will be led by Ajinkya Rahane, with Prithvi Shaw, Shardul Thakur, and Dhawal Kulkarni as the other experienced players in the side.However, the absence of Iyer and Dube will undoubtedly weaken Mumbai's chances of progressing to the semi-finals. The team will need to find a way to compensate for the loss of their two key players if they are to maintain their title challenge.