Bengal team management is very excited about accelerating U-19 India pacer Ravi Kumar in the upcoming Ranji Trophy where the team will start its campaign from February 16 in Cuttack. It is clear that veteran goalkeeper batter Wriddhiman Saha will be available for at least the opening game, if not the first two of the Ranji Trophy before joining the India team’s bio-bubble in Mohali for the first test, for now. scheduled for March 4. Bengal has been clubbed in Elite Group B along with Chandigarh, Hyderabad and Baroda and the team heads to Cuttack on February 10 along with two U-19 World Cuppers — Ravi and left-handed batter Abhishek Porel.
In fact, former India opener and current Bangladesh U-19 head coach Devang Gandhi welcomed the idea if the senior state voters and team management decide to include Ravi in the senior roster.
“Nothing gives a coach more satisfaction than seeing their departments make it to the elite level. That’s what we strive for as coaches – to guide the talented guys in the right direction.
“No one would be happier than me if both Ravi and Abhishek Porel (who is also on standby in the West Indies) make it to the Ranji squad,” Devang told PTI, having already led the junior team to the Cooch Behar Trophy. quarterfinals.
While the BCCI has yet to announce the dates of the U-19 national quarters, Gandhi believes that as much as he would love to have them on the junior team, the aim is for them to prepare for the tougher challenges ahead.
“I would love to have a quarter final for them when they are held. But for their own growth and improvement they need to progress to the next level quickly. For Ravi I can say he is a very hard working boy and in years you will be a adding a few yards of pace with his natural ability to swing it back in,” Devang said.
While talking to sources close to senior team management, it was felt that both Ravi and Porel will make it to the main squad if they don’t play against XI.
Being a left-armed sailor and having to shoot the ball in, Ravi can add variety to any bowling attack.
“Yes, there is a good possibility that after his performances in the U-19 World Cup, Ravi will be included in the Bengal senior team. We need to take care of them and catch them young.
“As BCCI is not planning a U-25 (Bengal A) tournament from now on, Ravi needs to be looked after with care. Obviously, it is a choice, but both head coach Arun Lal and coach Saurasish Lahiri are keeping a close eye on Ravi.
“Even if he doesn’t make it to the first XI in the presence of Akash Deep, Ishan Porel and Mukesh Kumar, who knows, an opportunity might be just around the corner,” said a source close to Bengal’s team management.
In the case of Abhishek Porel, he has a better chance of making his debut with the big gloves and many believe he has the game to play as a pure batter.
promoted
“Abhishek would have made his debut if the Sri Lanka tests had not been postponed to March. But now we expect Wriddhi to be available for the first game and possibly the second game,” he said.
The Indian selectors want all testing specialists to play at least two rounds of the Ranji Trophy before reporting to the national team bubble.
Topics mentioned in this article