Mumbai will resume their Ranji Trophy campaign against India pacer Mohammed Siraj-led Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Thursday. After three wins from five matches, Mumbai are on top of Elite Group ‘D’ with 24 points.
Left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Shams Mulani, who is Mumbai’s leading wicket-taker with 28 scalps so far, insists the team must concentrate on each session at a time to get the better of the Hyderabad side.
“I’m very excited because I love red-ball cricket. I love that grind and that patient battle. We need to focus on each session. And if we win most of the sessions, we will win the game,” Mulani told mid-day over the phone from Hyderabad on Wednesday.
When asked how he viewed the team’s battle against Siraj, Mulani replied: “It’s quite normal because we play against India players in different formats. So, it’s just another challenge for us to play against a quality bowler. Obviously, performing well against India’s top bowler will boost our confidence and we need that confidence going forward in the league and probably in the knockouts as well.”
Mumbai suffered a nine-wicket defeat to the same Hyderabad team in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in Pune last month with Siraj claiming 3-17. However, Mulani reckoned that defeat won’t matter here. “This is a different format. T20 is unpredictable; anybody can beat anybody. But our focus is on ourselves. We have been playing some good cricket so far and must continue that,” Mulani said. Mumbai will be missing the services of experienced players ex-captain Ajinkya Rahane (who has made himself unavailable), Shardul Thakur and off-spinner Tanush Kotian (both injured).
