MP, Saurashtra for Bapuna Cup

NAGPUR: The Ranji Trophy is getting tougher by each season. The teams, these days, start their planning and preparations much ahead. With another crucial season ahead, Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) has also planned its domestic season. Continuing its trend of bringing outstation teams for the past three years, the VCA has invited Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association and Saurashtra Cricket Association for the annual Bapuna Cup tournament.This will be four-team tournament, with two local teams.
Madhya Pradesh, in fact, have named a strong 17-member squad—led by India 'A' allrounder Jalaj Saxena—for the tournament. The team also includes big names like Devendra Bundela, Mohnish Mishra and Udit Birla, along with some talented youngsters. "It's important to prepare well before the season. Saurashtra are also sending a good team. So it would be competitive tournament for youngsters," a VCA official told TOI on condition of anonymity.
There's some more good news for Ranji Trophy probables. Apart from Bapuna Cup, they will also take part in Bhausahab Nimbalkar Trophy in Pune. Vidarbha will get to play minimum three three-day league matches. Teams like Baroda, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir and MP besides three teams from Maharashtra. It's still not sure whether professionals S Badrinath, Ganesh Satish and Rakesh Dhruv will play in the tournament or not. However, VCA isn't entirely worried about that as all three are playing competitive tournaments for the last couple of months.
"The players have gone through rigorous fitness training earlier this season and we had organized camp for the spinners conducted by Narendra Hirwani. Our boys will definitely helped from the words of wisdom from Hirwani," the source added.