CALCUTTA (India): Bengal will hope to overcome batting woes under their batting coach and former India star VVS Laxman whey they open campaign against Kerala at the 86th Ranji Trophy on December 17.
The 1990 champions are in Group A with defending champions Vidarbha, Andhra, Bengal, Delhi, Gujarat, Hyderabad, Kerala, Punjab and Rajasthan.
Bolstered by the recent induction of former India star Laxman as the team’s batting consultant, the two-time winners will look forward to overcome their batting woes in India’s premier first-class tournament.
The success-starved team had a session at the Jadavpur University ground on Tuesday under the watchful eyes of coach and mentor Arun Lal.
But the former India opening batsman and Bengal skipper will have to pull up his socks if he wants see his adopted state make inroads in the competition.
The team had a dismal performance in Syed Mustaq Ali T20 Trophy, where they failed to qualify for the Super League.
Bengal’s schedule: Vs Kerala (from Dec 17); Vs Andhra (H) (from Dec 25); Vs Gujarat (H) (from Jan 3, 2020); Vs Vidarbha (Jan 11); Vs Hyderabad (H) (from Jan 19); Vs Delhi (H) (from Jan 27); Vs Team Rajasthan (from Feb 2); Vs Punjab (from Feb 12)
In the absence of a genuine star, Bengal will depend a lot on their high-profile coaching staff to draw inspiration.
Veteran pace bowler Ashok Dinda had been dropped while batsman Manoj Tiwary is struggling to over inconsistency.
Even team captain and right-handed opening batsman Abhimanyu Easwaran is not in the thick of runs, and Laxman will only be hoping to galvanise the rustiness in the batting line-up.
Tournament Format
The tournament will retain the same format as the previous edition with four groups.
There will be nine teams each in Group A, B, and 10 in Group C and Plate Group.
The top two teams from Group C and the top team in the Plate Group will progress to the quarterfinals along with five teams from pool A and B.
Chandigarh will compete for the first time.
