It’s Match 29 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2023, and all eyes are set on the upcoming clash where Baroda squares off against Bengal at the iconic Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, scheduled for November 25. Fans can expect the action to kick off at 9:00 AM IST.
Baroda’s journey so far in this 50-over campaign has been nothing short of thrilling, securing a nail-biting three-run victory over Punjab in their previous encounter at Thane. Despite the pressure, Baroda managed to put up a decent score of 214/9, where Shivalik Sharma’s half-century stood out. The Punjab team put up a tough fight in the chase but eventually succumbed, falling short by three runs. For Baroda, the commendable bowling duo of Atit Sheth and Babashafi Pathan were the stars, bagging three wickets each.
Bengal, in contrast, boasts an emphatic nine-wicket win over Nagaland. This undeniable show of force was spearheaded by Sakshaim Chaudhary’s stellar bowling performance that saw Nagaland being bowled out for a mere 139 runs. The chase was a walk in the park for Bengal, as Abhimanyu Easwaran and Sudip Gharami’s half-centuries led them to a victory within just 18.5 overs.
Turning to the pitch at the Brabourne Stadium, statistics over the last 10 matches suggest an average first innings score of 220. The numbers tilt in favor of teams chasing a score, with a whopping 70 percent win rate for teams batting second. These stats stand as guiding metrics for the captains in deciding their strategy upon winning the toss.
The conditions forecast a hot and humid environment, with temperatures soaring to 34 degrees accompanied by a humidity level of 55 percent, likely to test the players’ endurance and resilience.
Team compositions are crucial for the day, and both sides have announced robust squads. Baroda’s squad includes Bhanu Pania, Jyotsnil Singh, Kinit Patel, Shashwat Rawat, Shivalik Sharma, Abhimanyusingh Rajput, Krunal Pandya (captain), Ninad Rathva, Pradeep Yadav, Mitesh Patel (wicketkeeper), Vishnu Solanki (wicketkeeper), Atit Sheth, Babashafi Pathan, Lukman Meriwala, Mahesh Pithiya, and Soyeb Sopariya.
Bengal’s contingent features Abhimanyu Easwaran, Anustup Majumdar, Ranjot Khaira, Ravi Kumar, Ritwik Roy Chowdhury, Subham Chatterjee, Sudip Gharami (captain), Karan Lal, Pradipta Pramanik, Shahbaz Ahmed, Abishek Porel (wicketkeeper), Shakir Gandhi (wicketkeeper), Akash Deep, Ishan Porel, Kaushik Maity, Mohammed Kaif, Mukesh Kumar, and Saksham Chaudhary.
Fantasy gamers have plenty to ponder with the lineups, with Vishnu Solanki and Shakir Gandhi as recommended wicketkeepers. Batters could include Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shivalik Sharma, and Jyotsnil Singh. All-rounders like Krunal Pandya, Ninad Rathva, and Shahbaz Ahmed are the players to watch, while Atit Sheth, Ishan Porel, and Akash Deep might prove pivotal in the bowling department. Krunal Pandya and Shahbaz Ahmed could be the top picks for captain and vice-captain in fantasy leagues.
As far as the top performers go, Shivalik Sharma has so far accumulated 51 runs with an average of 51 and a strike rate of 73.91, including a half-century. Sudip Gharami leads for Bengal with 62 runs under his belt, striking at an impressive rate of 140.91. From the bowlers, Atit Sheth and Saksham Chaudhary have been instrumental with three wickets each, boasting economical averages and delivering their best performances in this edition of the tournament.
Looking at the head-to-head record in List A ODIs, Bengal certainly seems to have the upper hand with two victories over Baroda. In their last two showdowns, Bengal scored 230 in their highest innings, while Baroda scored a low of 146.
Speculations are rife about the upcoming match, and predictions favor a Bengal victory, considering their previous successes over Baroda. However, cricket is a game of uncertainties, and a spirited performance from Baroda could spring a surprise.
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