The inclusion of professional players should hopefully add steel to the team and make it competitive in the new format being followed this year
The inclusion of professionals players like Manvinder Bisla,the KKR star, and the former India U-19 captain Ravikant Shukla, in the stateRanji trophy team is expected to adress the issues at the top of the order,which was apparent last season. Goa coachVivek Kolambkar looks satisfied with the way the team's pre-season has shapedup in preparation for the 2012-13 Ranji Trophy season.
"Looking at our opening combination, we wanted anopening batsman, hence Bisla was considered. We even felt a need for a number 3 batsman. Last year, we could notcapitalise the decent starts. Even in our pre-season practice matches, we gotstarts but then certain fall of wickets, pegged us back. Hence, we have broughtin (Ravikant) Shukla as the number 3 batsman, while Bisla will open along withSwapnil Asnodkar. I think that is the right combination we have in the battingside" asserted coach Vivek.
On the other hand, Goa's bowling looks settled and may evendo without a professional signing as left-arm spinner Shadab Jakati looks ontrack to return from his finger injury. "Shadab's rehab is going on well.I am very much happy with his progress and most probably by October first week,Shadab should start bowling in the nets. Let's hope for the best he has been our main bowler over all these years and I amlooking forward to get him fit as soon as possible," says the former Ranjicaptain-turned-coach.
Goa trained in Bangalore for around four weeks beforeplaying in the season-opening Moin-ud-Dowlah trophy earlier this month inHyderabad. "We did well against Delhi though we lost. We came backstrongly in the second innings scoring 271 runs in 40 overs against IshantSharma and Co, which was a positive sign. The attitude of the boys was right asthey were looking to win despite being on the back foot after conceding thefirst-innings lead to Delhi" says coach Vivek.
In the new format being followed this year, Goa has beengrouped along with J&K, Jharkhand, Kerala, Andhra, Services, HimachalPradesh, Tripura and Assam in Group C. The campaign commences on November 9against J&K at Porvorim. Goa will now have eight matches to play as opposedto five in the last format. The state players will be excited to make the mostof the opportunities in these premier domestic matches, and get themselves inthe market for lucrative I.P.L contracts.
