Ranji Trophy: Defending champs Mumbai are fit and raring to go against Gujarat

Defending champions Mumbai will vie for their 42nd title as they face Gujarat in the Ranji Trophy final at the Holkar Stadium here today

Akhil Herwadkar

Indore: Defending champions Mumbai will vie for their 42nd title as they face Gujarat in the Ranji Trophy final at the Holkar Stadium here today. Mumbai have had a tough season. Opening batsman Akhil Herwadkar, bowling spearhead Dhawal Kulkarni and left-arm spinner Vijay Gohil were constantly plagued with injuries. The Aditya Tare-led side have also had to shuffle their line-up due to players' fitness worries. However, injury concerns will be a thing of the past as Mumbai will have all 17 members fit for selection on D-Day.

Tare & Co now have three opening batsmen to choose from. Herwadkar, who scored 447 runs with two centuries in six games, young Prithvi Shaw, who smashed a century on debut against Tamil Nadu in the semi-final and Praful Waghela, who batted well in the second innings against Tamil Nadu, but failed to carry his momentum.

In the spin department, Mumbai have two left-armers - young Gohil, who is also the side's highest wicket-taker this season with 27 wickets and Vishal Dabholkar, apart from off-spinner Akshay Girap.

It will be a tricky call for Tare and head coach Chandrakant Pandit to take on who makes the cut.

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