Vijay Hazare Trophy: Mumbai test for red-hot Karnataka

Bengaluru: When they were tested, Karnataka’s batting was brittle, and the bowling crumbled. However, they have only been occasionally put through their paces in an otherwise emphatic Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign so far. 

And their run to the quarterfinals has not been about Devdutt Padikkal alone, who has set the stage afire, leading the run-scoring charts with 640 runs at an average of 91.42, including four hundreds and a fifty.  An out-of-form Mayank Agarwal came into the competition with the spotlight on him and pressure creeping in. The Karnataka skipper has shut the door on the critics, scoring 399 runs with two hundreds and two fifties, underlining his hunger to perform. 

While Karnataka have played with an air of invincibility in the group stage of the competition, the quarterfinal against arch-rivals Mumbai at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence on Monday could be a close one, just like their history. In the seven VHT meetings so far, Karnataka have edged Mumbai 4-3. 

Defending champions Karnataka have relied heavily on their openers Padikkal and Agarwal. 228/0, 184/0, 114/0, 77/0 - these were some of the partnerships that has laid the platform for another one of their resources that they have banked on: Abhinav Manohar (227 runs at 113.50, striking at 160.99). 

Apart from a few knocks, the ever-reliable Karun Nair and State’s batting sensation R Smaran have looked a shadow of themselves. However, that will have to change if they are to go all the way in the competition.  In the bowling department, the spin duo of Shreyas Gopal and Shreesha Achar have complemented each other well while Karnataka have consistently rotated their pace attack and have come out good. 

That said, Vidwath Kaverappa, one of the mainstays, has been dropped from the squad on form, having picked just six wickets in the last nine white-ball appearances. 

With Prasidh Krishna on national duty, Karnataka are expected to go with Vyshak Vijaykumar, Abhilash Shetty and Vidyadhar Patil operating in the pace department. 

A depleted Mumbai are expected to come hard at Karnataka, something all the seven teams in Group A did try, but only Madhya Pradesh were successful, thanks to Sunrisers Hyderabad wrist-spinner Shivang Kumar.

The visitors, who finished second in Group C with 20 points in seven games, have fired a few warnings with the bat, including a 444 for eight in 50 overs against Goa. 

In the game Punjab game, Sarfaraz Khan smashed the fastest fifty (15 balls) by an Indian in List A cricket and has been trying to knock India’s selection doors in the domestic season.  While none of the Mumbai batters have made the top 10 in the batting charts, they have lived on partnerships and collective contributions. 

Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Suryakumar Yadav and Yashasvi Jaiswal have left the team for the New Zealand white-ball series. Mumbai also lost Shardul Thakur (11 wickets) to injury, pushing them to call Atharva Ankolekar and Mohit Avasthi for the knockouts. 

Karnataka, however, start as favourites, courtesy of current form and the sheer strength on paper. 

Quarters line-up: Jan 12: Karnataka vs Mumbai (CoE 1), Uttar Pradesh vs Saurashtra (CoE 2).