Playing Karnataka, with an eye on Delhi

Mumbai play Karnataka from tomorrow but, with the defending champions breezing through to the semis, all thoughts at the Wankhede Stadium th...

Mumbai play Karnataka from tomorrow but, with the defending champions breezing through to the semis, all thoughts at the Wankhede Stadium this morning were centred around the match with Delhi from New Year’s Eve. Will it be a Sachin-Sehwag showdown? Will they play at all?

Thoughts have struggled to focus on the four days ahead. While Mumbai have justified their defending champions status with three innings victories on the trot, Karnataka have been found wanting, beset by problems. Lacklustre displays, change in leadership and murmurs of star ex-cricketers’ sons getting preferential treatment have hampered the team cause.

With just six points in their kitty, their fate also depends on how other contenders (Delhi and Gujarat, with eight points each) fare in their next two matches.

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Coach Karthik Jeshwant while defending the delay of naming his team put the contest in perspective. “You can do that (decide the eleven in advance) if the team has been performing well. We have to wait and see what wicket is on offer and pick the team accordingly’’, the former Ranji all-rounder said.

In contrast, Mumbai coach Chandrakant Pandit was keen on keeping the negatives away. ‘‘We do not want to disturb the winning combination and allow them to relax just because we have qualified,” he said.

The absence of Ajit Agarkar, who is on national duty, has opened a window to test the bench strength. In all likelihood all-rounder Wilkin Mota, who made his debut this season, will play.