Ranji Trophy, Super League, 2008-09

[msb1991]

Balaji was never any quicker than that..or was he? I don't remember him crossing 135 kmph.Moreover his International average is a pointer to the fact that he is a Proven Failure at the top level.

Balaji used to be consistently at 128-135kph but now he is 120-130kph; he has lost some, not a lot of pace and I believe it should come back if he works to restrengthen the back. There may also be a confidence issue too, he is not going to be going full pelt after just coming back from a two year injury, bowling 53.3 overs in 30 degree heat. On to calling him a proven failure, well, this is just wrong. He has 8 Tests, but lets break that down... - First two Tests in October 2003, took 1/183 over the two Tests. - Next seven Tests in March-April 2004 and March 2005 and took 26 wickets at 31.58. - The majority of these games were played on extremely flat pitches - Click here. In ODIs, he probably is a proven failure - but he has a chance to make up for that in this extremely long OD season coming up after that return spell in the IPL.

[coffee_rules]

Sau defeated Kar in one innings match-up. They did jack s hit against Mumbai. I thought TN will bring down Mumbai in the final, but they choked against UP. I certainly now hope UP will bring Mumbai down. Go Kaif, Chawla! This is a war as Mumbaiwallahs don't want UP bhaiyyas in their town. I hope UP bhaiyyas take revenge for that....'Desh Drohi' Style. Watch what UP can do to Mumbai... http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Desh+Drohi&search_type=&aq=f 7uBn7Fpdpxo

[PaiN_KiLLeR]

UP's only chance is if they win the toss and bit first on a dead wicket with knee level bounce for 2 and a half days.

[Holysmoke]

1. Kaif scores a run a ball century 2. Chawla bowls Tendulkar with a googly 3. Praveen Kumar has Rahane edging behind for a duck 4. FTB Jaffer unable to cope on a quick Hyderabad wicket 5. Raina leads a second innings chase scoring a hundred and taking UP to a Ranji title Feel free to chip in with how it's going to happen.....because it will, so get in while your money is still good. :yay:

I'm with Prof.

Kaif and Raina will be unstoppable.

Look at the UP line up Tanmay (new star) Kaif (consistent) Raina (dangerous) The guy who scored epic hundred in semis Chawla (has not been in form, but who knows this could be his match) Praveen Kumar (performs in finals, remember VB series finals and he could bat a bit too) Wish RP Singh is fit. This is dangerous UP side, who are capable chasing any score. They chase 500 odd against Karnataka and 400 odd in semis.

The semis and final should be 5 day affair. The majority of the time, the tactic is to ensure a first innings lead to advance to the next stage. In regards to the final, I prefer to back the underdogs....so Uttar Pradesh has my vote...UP actually has a very good chance to stop the Mumbai Juggernauts. Get rid of the Mumbai openers and in creeps the pressure on the likes of Tendulkar :tounge_smile: I'd like RP Swing to play if he's fit. It will strengthen the UP team. Hopefully, this would be available for watching

I am ready to give all my ICF$ to the person who PM's me first on the condition we lose to Mumbai. COME ON UPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!! SRIVASTAVA TO SHINE!!!!!

Sau defeated Kar in one innings match-up. They did jack s hit against Mumbai. I thought TN will bring down Mumbai in the final, but they choked against UP. I certainly now hope UP will bring Mumbai down. Go Kaif, Chawla! This is a war as Mumbaiwallahs don't want UP bhaiyyas in their town. I hope UP bhaiyyas take revenge for that....'Desh Drohi' Style. Watch what UP can do to Mumbai...

[fineleg]

if atleast UP gives Bombay a good fight - then it will be interesting.

[The Outsider]

[Show_stopper]

Balaji used to be consistently at 128-135kph but now he is 120-130kph; he has lost some, not a lot of pace and I believe it should come back if he works to restrengthen the back. There may also be a confidence issue too, he is not going to be going full pelt after just coming back from a two year injury, bowling 53.3 overs in 30 degree heat. On to calling him a proven failure, well, this is just wrong. He has 8 Tests, but lets break that down... - First two Tests in October 2003, took 1/183 over the two Tests. - Next seven Tests in March-April 2004 and March 2005 and took 26 wickets at 31.58. - The majority of these games were played on extremely flat pitches - Click here. In ODIs, he probably is a proven failure - but he has a chance to make up for that in this extremely long OD season coming up after that return spell in the IPL.

All fair points..perhaps i was a little hasty as far as the tests are concerned,but nothing can hide the fact that he didn't produce much match winning spells in the reasonable opportunities he was given.I recall him doing well in the final ODI in the 2004 Pak series where he got a 5-fer...but apart from that i can't recollect a single noteworthy spell.Fair enough if people want to see him back in the team, and i wish him luck..but personally i think he has passed under the radar.Had a lovely outswinger i'll give him that.And regarding the 5 kph of pace..i don't think he is likely to regain it.I notice his run-up has slowed down quite dramatically, just doesn't gather moemtum..i might be wrong but it wasn't so back in those days.Anyways its unlikely to make a difference either way:--D

[Holysmoke]

[King Tendulkar]

:hysterical:Funny thread, good picture replies by holysmoke

[Guest BossBhai]

-- Removed on request of the user --

[The Outsider]

[Dravid]

:haha: gutsy thread :D esp. with the amount of mumbai fans/ mumbai bandwagoners around :D Go UP

[Cricketics]

Up should request bcci to brinng bucknor to umpire in this match as bucknor is always anti-sachin's team

[rahulrulezz]

1. Kaif scores a run a ball century 2. Chawla bowls Tendulkar with a googly 3. Praveen Kumar has Rahane edging behind for a duck 4. FTB Jaffer unable to cope on a quick Hyderabad wicket 5. Raina leads a second innings chase scoring a hundred and taking UP to a Ranji title Feel free to chip in with how it's going to happen.....because it will, so get in while your money is still good. :yay:

i stopped reading after this

[hindu-Stan]

who will win? Dont know..... Mumbai looks strong on card but UP is not bad either. I am not supporting any of them. I will support who ever will win.. :haha:

[Desi Cartman]

can delhi still win ?

[anbuchelvan]

Sachin owes something from Piyush.Time to pay him back with interest.

[DomainK]

What a joke!!

[Rajiv]

can delhi still win ?

If amits was here, anything can happen

[Chandan]

Semi-final, Day 4 Mumbai v Saurashtra, Chennai, Day 4 Mumbai 637 for 6 dec (Jaffer 301, Tendulkar 122, Rahane 85) and 42 for 1 drew with Saurashtra 379 (Kotak 89, Makvana 56*, Powar 4-108). Mumbai progress on basis of first-innings lead Scorecard Mumbai march into Ranji finals Ramesh Powar and Dhawal Kulkarni shared the five remaining Saurashtra wickets to clinch Mumbai's place in the final of the Ranji Trophy on the basis of a first-innings lead. Kulkarni took two wickets in an over early in the day but Kamlesh Makvana and Rakesh Dhurv kept Saurashtra's slim chances alive with a battling partnership. Offspinner Powar polished off the tail to ensure Saurashtra's campaign ended in the semi-finals for the second season in a row. Ramesh Powar cleaned up the tail to take Mumbai to the finals Kulkarni's impressive debut season continued when he got rid of the Saurashtra captain Jaydev Shah, the last specialist batsman, in the day's third over. Shah chased a wide delivery outside off and ended up slicing a catch to backward point. Three balls later, Kulkarni had Sagar Jogiyani nicking a delivery that straightened after pitching outside off to third slip and Saurashtra were reduced to 256 for 7. Just when it seemed like Mumbai would run through the tail, Makvana, who made his second first-class half-century, and Dhurv stitched together a 103-run stand to keep Saurashtra fighting. Makvana was particularly gutsy, taking several blows on the body during a barrage of bouncers from Ajit Agarkar. With two leg slips, and a short leg, Agarkar peppered Makvana (first-class average of 12.70) with short balls from both over and round the wicket, but the batsman survived, weaving his way out of a few and clipping some towards square-leg. At the other end, Dhurv was more comfortable against spin than pace. He started off with a confident off-drive against Zaheer Khan, but was fortunate to survive several streaky shots past the slip cordon. Dhurv carted the shorter deliveries from Powar to the boundary and watchfully defended the better ones. Dhurv and Makvana fought through the first session but Powar's post-lunch spell finished off Saurashtra. Dhurv was the first to go, in the second over of the second session, trapped lbw for 44. Sandeep Jobanputra slammed a couple of eye-catching boundaries off Zaheer but an attempted sweep off Powar landed in the hands of first slip soon after. The final wicket wasn't long in coming: Balkrishna Jadeja was caught behind to virtually signal the end of Saurashtra's campaign. Mumbai opted against enforcing the follow-on and Rohit Sharma and Amol Muzumdar, two batsmen who spent little time at the crease in the first innings, helped themselves to some batting practice before play was called off due to bad light. Saurashtra were on the backfoot right through the match after losing the toss. The batting might of Mumbai, made even more formidable by the presence of Sachin Tendulkar, ran up a mammoth total and with Saurashtra's batting stars failing to make an impact, there was little chance of Saurashtra making the title clash. Another POV Mumbai huff and puff their way into final S. Dinakar Makhwana resistance not enough to stop Mumbai from going through to final THRILLED: Mumbai’s Ramesh Powar is delighted after dismissing Saurashtra’s Balakrishna Jadeja on Wednesday. Chennai: As Kamlesh Makhwana, who stood his ground despite suffering multiple blows to his hands, and Rakesh Dhruve continued to negate Zaheer Khan & Co under constantly darkening skies, the growing frustration in the Mumbai camp was evident, and a number of nervous glances were directed heavenwards. But, in the end, Saurashtra’s dreams of reaching their first ever Ranji Trophy final were quashed by a couple of rash shots, two blunders from umpire Amesh Saheba, and an unfortunate delay in the arrival of the much-awaited rain at the MA Chidambaram stadium on Wednesday. By the time Rohit Sharma and Abhishek Nayar walked off the field after being offered the light, and the heavens eventually opened up, the attention seemed to have shifted towards Nagpur, where Shivakant Shukla was heroically guiding Uttar Pradesh past Tamil Nadu’s first innings total. Mumbai is through to the Ranji Trophy final. Defending 637 for the lead, Wasim Jaffer’s men dismissed Saurashtra for 379 at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday. Despite the margin, Mumbai barely managed to avoid elimination on the fourth day of the Ranji Trophy semifinal. Ahead on net run-rate (calculated till the quarterfinals), Saurashtra would have progressed to the final had the first innings remained incomplete. Makhwana's grit and determination against a bowling attack led by Zaheer and comprising of Ajit Agarkar, Dhawal Kulkarni and Ramesh Powar, seemed to epitomise his team’s spirit as he remained unbeaten on 56. He found an able ally in left-hander Dhruve, who played a fluent innings, which included a fabulous straight drive boundary off Kulkarni’s bowling. The duo were brought together very early in the piece, as overnight batsman Jaydev Shah drove uppishly to substitute Ankit Chavan at backward point, before Sagar Jogiyani edged Kulkarni to Sharma in the slips, and it looked like Mumbai would complete an early wrap-up job. But the pair defied the opposition and managed to remain together at lunch. And a fighting eighth-wicket pair of Kamlesh Makwana (56 not out, 138b, 6x4) and Rakesh Dhruv (44, 91b, 9x4) threatened Mumbai on a day of cloud cover and fading light. It was an error in judgment on the part of umpire Ameesh Sahiba — he adjudged the left-handed Dhruv leg before when the delivery from off-spinner Ramesh Powar pitched out-side the leg-stump — that ended the battling 103-run partnership. Then last man Balakrishna Jadeja was adjudged caught behind off Powar when the delivery appeared to be missing the outside edge. The Saurashtra innings concluded at 1.p.m. At 1.50 p.m., after Mumbai began its second innings, the umpires offered the batsmen light. Mumbai chose to bat on for practice. Not much later, it started to rain at Chepauk; the match did not resume. For Mumbai, it was a near thing. In the morning, paceman Dhaval Kulkarni rightly bowled from round-the-wicket to the left-handed Jaydev Shah. The Saurashtra skipper was lured into a fatal cover drive. Jaydev’s 49 (184b, 8x4) had been an effort of struggle for most part. Kulkarni, in the same over, snared S. Jogiani with one that straightened around the off-stump. Then Makwana and Dhruv offered stiff resistance. Makwana showed character while handling a barrage of short-pitched deliveries from the nippy Ajit Agarkar. As the two batsmen grew in confidence, they also essayed a few spanking shots. Dhruv was, eventually, unlucky to be dismissed. Powar bags five wkts. Powar scalped four; there was dip in his flight. He mixed his off-spinners with the one that went through straight. There was greater purchase for the spinners on the last day. When Mumbai batted again, Saurashtra left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja bowled a much better middle-and-off line. He released from closer to the stumps and spun the ball away sharply. Jadeja also has a handy arm-ball. Amol Muzumdar missed out on achieving the record for most runs in the history of Ranji Trophy Cricket in the first innings, and the reason for him coming to open Mumbai’s second innings seemed beyond obvious. But Sharma, who opened the innings with Muzumdar, played a few attractive shots, to add some spark to an otherwise dull day, before the match was called off, with Mumbai 42-1. Saurashtra, who bowed out at the same stage of the competition last year, may not have any superstar to boast of, apart from potential ones in Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja, but throughout the season, their young lot proved that they definitely had the heart for a fight, and giving up was never on their agenda. The perfect testimony to that was their remarkable final-day chase of 325 against Karnataka in the quarter-final. Mumbai now head to play their 42nd Ranji Trophy final, with most of their batsmen in supreme form and with a strong Zaheer-led bowling attack. As for Saurashtra, their young players will just mature more by the time the next season starts, and they will definitely hope to climb the two extra rungs of the ladder that have been elusive so far. Amre backs under-fire Muzumdar, Samant Amol Muzumdar seems to be relying on his past record to make it to the side, while wicket-keeper Vinayak Samant also have had a lean patch this season. Coach Pravin Amre, however, insists that both veteran players will be part of the Mumbai team that take on Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy final beginning in Hyderabad on Monday. “These are seasoned campaigners we are talking about, and they have done so much for Mumbai over the years. Amol has been having a tough time, but the reason we opened with him and Rohit (Sharma) was actually to give them some batting practice,” Amre said. The coach had admitted earlier in the season that Mumbai had talented reserve batsmen and bowlers, but they didn’t have too many wicket-keeping options. On Wednesday, he jumped to Samant’s defence and hoped that the seasoned campaigner would don the gloves and deliver a worthy performance in Hyderabad. Five wickets was all that separated Mumbai from a final berth going into the final day in Chennai, but Amre revealed that the team were nervous when they saw overcast conditions in the morning. “At six in the morning, it looked ominous. But I was confident that we would finish them off. We deserved to go through after such a good performance,” he said. The Makhwana-Dhruve partnership did make lunch-time uncomfortable for his team, said Amre, but everyone in the camp was relieved once it was broken. “We also had to keep one eye on the proceedings in Nagpur, and we were updating ourselves with the scores there,” he said, while insisting that Mumbai had no preferences when it came to the opponent in the final. Mumbai’s star-studded attack struggled to dismiss Saurashtra. Zaheer Khan toiled for 31 overs, while Ajit Agarkar and Ramesh Powar failed to pose too many problems to the batsmen. Amre though said that the pitch did not have much for his bowlers. “They have a number of decent batsmen in their line-up, and we always knew it wasn’t going to be easy to take 10 wickets. But our bowlers gave it their best, and did manage to get them out,” said Amre. Tamil Nadu v UP, Nagpur, Day 4 Tamil Nadu 445 (Mukund 100, Karthik 72, Vijay 69, Ganapathy 67*, Badrinath 65) drew with Uttar Pradesh 447 for 8 dec (Shukla 178*, Parvinder 138, Balaji 5-114) Uttar Pradesh progress to the final by virtue of first-innings lead Scorecard Gallant Shukla bats Uttar Pradesh into final January 7, 2009 Shivakant Shukla's persistence sets up a final between Uttar Pradesh and Mumbai A monumental effort from Shivakant Shukla, the fourth-longest innings in first-class cricket, took Uttar Pradesh through to their third final in four years on a tense fourth day in Nagpur. Both teams fought hard till the end for the vital first-innings lead. UP were the favourites to knock off the required 193 runs at the start of the final day, but a spirited L Balaji and some careless batting turned the match into an edge-of-the-seat affair. However, Shukla continued unflustered, playing with intense determination to steer his team into the lead with only two wickets in hand. When Praveen Gupta, the No. 10 batsman, cover-drove Balaji for a boundary in the ninth over of the mandatory last 15, it sparked off manic celebrations in the UP camp. The pent-up tension of the final three hours - when not many moved from their seats - was released. The whole team ran on to the field, and the captains agreed to call off the game. Shukla had come to bat 87 minutes before stumps on the second day, and struggled his way to dusk. Two days later, he was still there, having batted with focus and guts, cashing in on the chances and half-chances that came his way during his 821-minute stay at the crease. His 178 came off 569 deliveries, but he didn't let the slow scoring bog himself down mentally. He deservedly came back to the dressing room on the shoulders of his team-mates. Shukla and his partner for five-and-half-hours on Tuesday, Parvinder Singh, started confidently. The pitch was flat, and the attack - but for Balaji - not testing. TN came out with a plan - that of not giving away easy runs, and testing the temperament of the two inexperienced batsmen. In the sixth over of the day Parvinder nudged one to the leg side and brought up his first first-class century, vindication of the talent that had been tried only for 13 games since his debut first-class game in 1999-2000. The fresh bowlers and the little assistance the conditions offered them early in the day had no impact on the two batsmen as their partnership blossomed. When Balaji was brought back for a second spell, just before lunch, the stand had swollen beyond 250, and UP needed 120 more. The runs had started coming freely too: Parvinder had overtaken Shukla in scoring courtesy a four and a six in the same over off C Suresh. But Balaji finally produced the turnaround, getting a top edge: 462 minutes had elapsed since the last one. Bhuvneshwar Kumar showed the aptitude to hag around with Shukla, and UP went to the break as the favourites. Post lunch, Balaji got a change of ends, and got one ball to swing from around Bhuvneshwar's pads. The batsman went to flick it, but it straightened enough to take the leading edge and lob to S Vidyut at midwicket. With 110 runs still required, the flashier Piyush Chawla and Praveen Kumar couldn't afford to just throw their bats around. They had no clarity of purpose, and two ordinary shots later, TN were right back in the game. Chawla failed to clear mid-off, placed slightly deeper, off R Ashwin. Praveen, after having hit two streaky boundaries, went for a big hit to the leg side, and it was a formality for one of the three boundary-riders to gobble it up. Seventy-two runs were still required. Shukla was unbeaten on 141, in desperate need of company. Amir Khan, the wicketkeeper, was just the man to support a rescue act for UP, having done so in previous matches this season against Baroda and Karnataka. Shukla had enough confidence in Amir to not try anything desperate. As the eighth-wicket partnership continued to take UP towards safety, Tamil Nadu went for the third new ball, and with that back to their only weapon: Balaji. With a pulled boundary of C Ganapathy, Shukla reached his 150 minutes before tea. UP needed 41 in the last session, with three wickets in hand. Forty-one minutes into the final session, Shukla had batted 796 minutes - equalling the incredible effort by Shitanshu Kotak against Mumbai last season. Four minutes later he overtook Len Hutton and Sanath Jayasuriya too. Balaji, who had bowled 50 overs in the innings by then, came off a shorter run after tea, but was still the toughest to negotiate. Just when UP brought the target down to 25, he struck with a peach - a ball that started outside off stump and straightened to take Amir's edge. Out came Praveen Gupta and he survived two close lbw shouts off the first two balls Balaji bowled to him. Shukla now started to dominate the strike, twice taking a single off the last ball of the over, and once hitting a boundary after the field was brought up. With the target at 17, Gupta got a half-volley from Balaji and he crashed it through the off side for four. He was an equal partner after that. There was more drama still. Shukla edged one off Ashwin with soft hands, but it fell short of gully - the third such instance on the day. While UP were ecstatic in the end, TN were graceful in defeat. The winning runs came in Balaji's 54th over, but he was a winner - as coach WV Raman put it, he bowled himself into the ground. It was fitting that it took an effort as big as Shukla's to outdo him. Another POV Shukla marathon clinches U.P.’s lead A. Joseph Antony His nearly 13 and three quarter-hour vigil saw his team overhaul TN’s score THE BULWARK: Shivakant Shukla anchored the Uttar Pradesh innings with his unbeaten 178, steering the UP chase from its inception until the Tamil Nadu total of 445 was overhauled by two runs. NAGPUR: Till the other day, Shivakant Shukla was the fringe player, in and out of the Uttar Pradesh squad. No prominent brand name or sponsor logo adorned his bat, but it was the 22-year-old who stood tall and in the way of Tamil Nadu’s entry into the final of the Ranji Trophy. His nearly 13 and three quarter-hour vigil in the middle saw the U.P. chase from its inception until the Tamil Nadu total of 445 was overhauled by two runs, with two wickets to spare. As Uttar Pradesh approached Tamil Nadu’s first-innings total of 445, the dressing room was expectedly tense. Selector Gopal Sharma was so fidgety that he snatched a scorebook and started keeping a run count, skipper Mohammad Kaif was glued to his chair for the entire final session, and bowling coach Ashish Winston Zaidi tried to lighten the mood as he let out a shrill whistle every time a run was scored. But that didn’t help since Piyush Chawla sat next to him with with his hands clasped and eyes closed, constantly looked heavenwards. But there was one man in the UP camp who didn’t allow the nerves to bother him. Shivakant Shukla didn’t want his eight-hour long knock, spread over three days, to end in well-tried consolations. Playing the innings of his life, he scored an unbeaten 178 in company of nine different batting partners to meticulously plan UP’s marathon chase. Though, it was number 10 Praveen Gupta’s fearless cover drive off Laxmipathy Balaji that took UP across Tamil Nadu’s first-innings mark and booked their place in the Ranji finals, it was Shukla who got mobbed by his mates after the cliffhanger on the final day. Epic effort The epic effort at the Vidarbha Cricket Stadium here on Wednesday not only secured the vital first innings lead in the drawn match but earned him a fourth place entry in the record books for the longest stay at the crease in first class cricket as well. Shukla grew in confidence and composure as the contest wore on. The dangers of the morning hour were seen off successfully in partnership with Parvinder Singh, the latter dominating the strike till he departed. From Tuesday’s nervy nineties, Parvinder didn’t take long to record his maiden century, a nudge off Balaji to backward of square bringing up the magic figure. Parvinder went into celebratory mode, a lofted golf shot over long on off C. Suresh crossing the ropes. Partnership broken Balaji broke the bond between the two, prompting Parvinder to pull, only to be picked up by C. Suresh in the long leg region. By then, their association had lasted about eight hours and produced 272 for the fourth wicket. At lunch, U.P. was sitting pretty at 348 for four. It then lost three wickets in quick succession after the mid-day meal — those of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Piyush Chawla and Praveen Kumar — and was on 404 for seven at tea. Staring 192 behind the target, UP were in a tight spot this morning as Parvinder Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Piyush Chawla and Praveen Kumar were back in the hut with the team still needing 73 more runs to overtake TN. With Balaji’s deadly in-cutters creating a havoc, not just Shukla’s batting skills that were being severely tested but his temperament too was under scrutiny. Aamir Khan then proved the ideal foil for Shuka and a thorn Tamil Nadu found difficult to dislodge. Wicketkeeper Aamir Khan (21) stayed back for a while added 48 runs with Shukla. But when Khan departed UP were still 21 runs away for a place in the final. The wafer-thin wicket-keeper was pouched by his counterpart but not he brought his side a quarter century away from virtual victory. Shukla showed no inclination to curb his strokeplay, his cover and square-drives straight out of the manual. The winning runs came from Prvaeen Gupta, but it was Shukla who was chaired out by his ecstatic team-mates. “My coach wanted me to play slowly as part of our plan. I know we bat deep, but I needed to stay on,” said Shukla, an Allahabad native. Victorious skipper Mohd. Kaif described Shukla’s show as a determined demonstration of talent converted to performance. Tamil Nadu’s tragedy was Balaji’s tremendous five for 77 getting them nowhere after an unbeaten run thus far. The southern side seemed to have worked its way into the jam, one indication of which was Mr. Extras accounting for 34 in an otherwise close contest. Huge relief for UP Such was the sense of relief in the UP camp that Kaif didn’t hide his surprise after this narrow escape to victory. “I never thought that Shivakant and Parvinder will play for so long. Frankly, when we lost Tanmay, Raina and myself, I thought it was time to pack our bags. But Shiva proved everybody wrong,” he said. It was quite understandable why Kaif needed to pinch himself after Shukla’s unexpected match-winning contribution. The day’s hero, like Kaif, hails from Allahabad and the two have had a long association since the age-group days and Shukla has been known for no more than cameos, playing second lead to the bigger names in the batting department right through his career. He has represented the country at U-17 and U-19 levels, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Irfan Pathan, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, RP Singh, Dinesh Karthik and Piyush Chawla during several junior India camps, but with no stand out show at that level, he never quite hit the headlines. Even at the Ranji level, he’s been no more than an average player — regularly making it to the XI but never scoring any defining knock. This Ranji semis against has TN changed it all. This has been a season of great batting feats and there are many who have scored more than the 178 that Shukla scored today. But considering the match and tournament situation, this knocks was among the best all season. .