Wasim Jaffer was proud of having made the semi-final with a team missing so many first-choice players but also felt the toss had an important role to play
Abhishek Purohit at the Holkar Cricket Stadium05-Jan-2012They arrived to play a knockout match without two star batsmen, a keyallrounder and two premier fast bowlers but in the end, Mumbai foundsomeone to do the job, as they have throughout the season. Not only wereMumbai missing Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane and Abhishek Nayar, theirremaining two important batsmen, Wasim Jaffer and Suryakumar Yadav, alsofailed in the quarter-final. They were 60 for 5 in pursuit of 192 on apitch that was still doing something on the second morning.But they found a savior in Kaustubh Pawar, who blunted the MP fast bowlersfor eight hours in his debut first-class season. His 160 off 328deliveries, and later, Ankeet Chavan’s century, were instrumental inbuilding a big lead for Mumbai. Jaffer was proud of having made thesemi-final with a team missing so many first-choice players but also feltthat the toss had an important role to play. Mumbai were able to makefirst use of a fresh wicket to dismiss MP cheaply after which the pitcheased out for the remainder of the game.Jaffer rated Pawar’s effort as one of the best he had seen in a knockoutmatch. “Pawar’s innings was tremendous, especially for someone playing inhis debut season. We were in trouble at the end of the first day havinglost five wickets for 60,” Jaffer said. “But to take a massive lead of 242from that position is a big achievement. If you look at the side we have,it is creditable that we have come so far [in the tournament].”Mukesh Sahni, the MP coach, said his batsmen had a lot to learn from Pawar’sunwavering patience and his ability to put away the risky strokes.Jaffer also praised Chavan, saying that he had performed whenever he hadbeen given the opportunity. Chavan made his maiden first-class hundredfrom No. 9, showing the depth in the Mumbai batting line-up. SulakshanKulkarni, the Mumbai coach, said Chavan played like a specialist batsman.”I do not treat him as a tail-ender. If you see, he wasplaying so straight and was comfortable against both pace and spin.”Chavan’s act has relegated a steady performer like Iqbal Abdulla to thesidelines for now but Kulkarni said that competition was always healthyfor a side.Whether they are full-strength or not, Mumbai are always expected to winthe Ranji Trophy. Jaffer said that would always be the case and Mumbaiwould have to try hard with whatever players were available. “We cannotsit back and lament that we are missing so many players. The expectationswill always be there. It is up to us to try our best with the squad wehave.”The way his fringe players have been delivering, Jaffer will not beoverly worried ahead of the semi-final against heavyweights Tamil Nadu.
