MP takes on J&K in an intriguing battle for a semifinal berth

Can Madhya Pradesh extend its winning run, or will Jammu and Kashmir break new ground? The answer will unfold in what should be a cracking Ranji Trophy quarterfinal at the Holkar Stadium here on Friday.

MP is on a roll, having stormed into the knockout rounds after two group stage victories. A 217-run dismantling of Karnataka in Bengaluru came first, followed by a 133-run win over Maharashtra to finish as the Elite ‘B’ topper.

MP, the 2021-22 Ranji Trophy champion, has all the essential First Class ingredients. The top-order of Yash Dubey, Himanshu Mantri and Shubham Sharma can grind all day, while captain Rajat Patidar and Venkatesh Iyer provide flair in the middle-order.

Saransh Jain has been prolific with bat and ball. In Saransh and Kumar Kartikeya, MP boasts of a potent spin attack.

And then there is charismatic coach Chandrakant Pandit, whose tactical nous keeps MP one step ahead.

J&K, meanwhile, will be fired up to make history. This is the State’s fourth appearance in the last-eight stage of the tournament, but a semifinal berth has been elusive thus far.

Paras Dogra’s men came close last season, before conceding a one-run innings lead to Kerala in a drawn quarterfinal.

Fast bowler Auqib Nabi has been making waves once again, taking 34 wickets at 13.73 apiece. He has a capable new ball partner in left-arm seamer Sunil Kumar, who troubles batters with late inswing.

Abdul Samad, known for his IPL exploits, has come into his own as a dependable red-ball batter.

At 41, Dogra brings a wealth of experience as a leader. Dogra struck gold with a century against Delhi earlier in the campaign, showing no loss in appetite for runs.

On the sidelines, J&K Coach Ajay Sharma faces his old India teammate in Pandit. A feisty contest is on the cards.