Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy: Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 knockouts to kick start on Tuesday – Sixty-six premier domestic cricketers will battle it out in ‘toxic Delhi air’ which has been the cause for health hazards as the Syed Mushtaq Ali National T20 Championship’s pre-quarter-final starts in the national capital on Monday. The Feroz Shah Kotla Ground in Delhi will host one match in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Follow InsideSport.in for more latest updates
Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 knockouts to kick start on Tuesday, six teams to battle for the title in hazardous Delhi air
As on Monday, the highest Air Quality Index (AQI) level in Delhi was 349, which is ‘Harzardous’ and was recorded in the Shahdara area. The place where two of the pre-quarter-finals will be played is Feroz Shah Kotla, which is located in Central Delhi, where the condition is slightly better with a peak AQI of 249, which is deemed “Unhealthy”.
“The conditions are slightly better compared to past week and there is no intimation that we won’t go ahead with the game,” a senior DDCA official told PTI when asked if there is a chance of cancellation.
On the cricketing front, Maharashtra have been dealt a big blow with Ruturaj Gaikwad receiving a national team call-up they face regional rival Vidarbha in one of the three pre-quarter-finals
Ruturaj Gaikwad was the top batsman for Maharashtra throughout the group stage, having scored three consecutive half-centuries, and is currently the leading run-scorer of the team, aggregating 259 runs from five matches. But having earned a national India call-up for the T20 series against New Zealand, Maharashtra will miss his services.
In Gaikwad’s absence, senior players Kedar Jadhav and current vice-captain Naushad Shaikh will have to shoulder responsibility if the side has to score or chase big. Kedar has exactly not been among heavy runs and come Tuesday, he would like to take on the Vidarbha attack with gusto and help his team advance to the last eight.
Naushad, who is an aggressive batter and can take any attack to cleansers on his day, would need to come good at the ‘Kotla’. However, the duo would need support from other batters.
Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 knockouts to kick start on Tuesday, six teams to battle for the title in hazardous Delhi air
If a fit Rahul Tripathi, who missed the league stage due to an injury sustained in the IPL final, is available, then that will surely help Maharashtra, who had won the T20 domestic championship, 10 years back.
Maharashtra will also have a new captain for the marquee clash as the young opener from Pune led in the league stage.
On the bowling front, the four overs by experienced left-arm spinner Satyajeet Bachhav would be crucial in deciding the game’s outcome.
Vidarbha were unbeaten in the league stage and had topped the group. They would be more than keen to continue the winning streak.
And for that to happen, the role of spinner Akshay Karnewar would be crucial in absence of pacer Umesh Yadav, who is picked in India’s squad for New Zealand.
Karnewar had scripted history by becoming the first bowler in men’s T20s, to concede zero runs, in his spell. He will have to bowl in the right areas to stop the Maharashtra batters.
Their batters including skipper Akshay Wadkar, would have to come good, if Vidarbha have to spring a surprise, else Maharashtra are run-away favourites to reach the quarters.
The match starts at 8.30 AM IST.
Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 knockouts to kick start on Tuesday, six teams to battle for the title in hazardous Delhi air
Two other quarter-finals:
Himachal vs Kerala: 12 PM at Airforce Ground, Palam
Karnataka vs Saurashtra, at Arun Jaitley stadium, 1 PM IST.
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