Star India players to miss Ranji Trophy quarter-finals

Ahead of the all-important Ranji Trophy quarter-finals, Karnataka opener KL Rahul and Vidarbha pacer Umesh Yadav are unlikely to play their respective team’s matches. Similarly, Mohammed Shami and Wriddhiman Saha will miss Bengal’s quarterfinal game.

Umesh Yadav developed a niggle while bowling in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Nagpur and was subsequently rested for the third Test in New Delhi. According to a statement by the Vidarbha Cricket Association, the pacer has been advised to report at the NCA in Bengaluru for a rehabilitation programme.

Another report in the media says, "the team management, in consultation with the chairman of national selection panel M.S.K. Prasad, has decided against releasing Rahul for the key clash. Despite not featuring in India’s ODI squad, the team management is understood to have decided to “preserve” Rahul for the forthcoming Twenty20 series and, more importantly, the tour of South Africa."

Wriddhiman Saha and Mohammad Shami too will not be able to make it to the quarterfinal game on time as they have got free from their international commitments only today and Bengal play their quarterfinal game tomorrow.

The quarter-finals of the 2017-18 Ranji Trophy will get underway on December 7 and will take place till December 11.

Karnataka will face Mumbai in Nagpur, Delhi will play Madhya Pradesh in Vijayawada, Gujarat and Bengal will lock horns in Jaipur and Kerala will meet Vidarbha in Surat. For Kerala, this will be their first-ever Ranji Trophy quarter-final game. Under new captain Sachin Baby and new coach Dav Whatmore, the football-crazy state has made a great impact in the on-going domestic season.

Last year, Mumbai ended their campaign as runners-up and Gujarat were the tournament winners. This year again, Mumbai look the toughest to beat among all other teams that have qualified into the quarters.