Green-top pitch for Ranji final

Kolkata, Feb 14: A green-top pitch will be on offer for Bengal-Saurashtra Ranji Trophy summit clash beginning here on Thursday.
Pace bowling has been Bengal’s main strength with the troika of Akash Deep (37), Ishan Porel (24) and Mukesh Kumar (18) accounting for the most number of wickets this season.
Two days ahead of the match, the Eden Gardens centre strip sported a green cover and Cricket Association of Bengal pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee said there would be no “further trimming”.
“Our pace bowling is much better than Saurashtra and we will have a similar grass cover on the pitch, there is no further scope for trimming,” Mukherjee told reporters.
Asked whether toss would be a factor, he said: “As always, the first and the last hour at Eden Gardens are crucial when wicket aids seam movement.
“It would be no different this time. Toss won’t be a big advantage. Luck has been with the Bengal side this season, and I hope they win the title this time.”
Two-time champions Bengal are yet to win the Ranji Trophy since 1989-90. Since then, they have made the final four times, the last being in 2019-20 when they lost to Saurashtra.
Bengal’s last Ranji triumph also had come at the Eden Gardens and they would look to end the prolonged drought, with a ‘sweet revenge’ against Saurashtra.
Bengal skipper hails DRS introduction in final
Bengal skipper Manoj Tiwary on Tuesday hailed the inclusion of DRS for their Ranji Trophy final against Saurashtra from Thursday.
This is the first time DRS will be implemented in a Ranji Trophy final and both teams will get three reviews in each innings. This comes after last season’s final between Madhya Pradesh and Mumbai was mired in controversy. (PTI)