Rohans fit, Laxmi almost there , Sports - City - Kolkata Mirror,Kolkata Mirror

Posted On Monday, November 23, 2009 at 01:03:51 PM

Kolkata: There was a disjointed look to the Bengal side as the players limbered up at the Eden Gardens during Sunday morning’s optional practice session in absence of their coach Roger Binny who will join the team only on Monday.

Rohan Gavaskar (picture left), watched by Bengal captain Laxmi Ratan Shukla, undergoes a fitness test at the Eden Gardens on Sunday. Saurashtra’s Ravindra Jadeja (left) and Cheteshwar Pujara train at the same venue

With the CAB bosses postponing the team selection to Monday afternoon, barring the usual suspects there was a sense of uncertainty among the fringe players. The good news was that both the Rohans — Gavaskar and Banerjee — passed fitness tests and are certainties in the playing XI.

Skipper Laxmi Ratan Shukla, who missed Karnataka match with an injury, limped through his fitness test but didn’t quite convince the selectors or team management about his wellbeing. He has been asked to undergo another fitness test on Monday before the CAB names its XV for the crucial Ranji Trophy Elite League Group B tie against Saurashtra beginning here on Tuesday.

Chances are that Laxmi will play. In case he pulls up short, Manoj Tiwary, who led in his absence in Bangalore, will continue be in charge. The hue and cry over Tiwary’s elevation to the hot seat seems to have died down. Senior pro Deep Dasgupta, who was supposed to lead in Laxmi’s absence in Bangalore, had a one-on-one with the CAB president to clear the air over the controversy. And all seems well with former India stumper, who is set to continue as an opener.

All eyes were on Sourav Ganguly, who practised alongside his Bengal teammates for the second day running. Ganguly had a long ‘session’ in the nets with Tiwary watching from behind the stumps. Tiwary, whose unbeaten 65 against Karnataka helped Bengal draw the game and earn a point, will be keen to get a big one before the national selectors pick the Indian team for the two T20 matches and the ODI series against Sri Lanka.

The return of Gavaskar and Ganguly to the XI means Arindam Das and Abhishek Jhunjhunwala may have to sit this one out.

The Saurashtra team, led by Jaydev Shah, has no injury worries. The visitors too had a good nets session and Shah was happy to have a feel of the conditions at Eden Gardens.

“Basically we wanted our batsmen to get used to the light as it tends to be somewhat hazy in the morning session. Also, it tends to get dark in the final session,” said Jaydev.

“The wicket looks seamer-friendly as Bengal have a good pace attack. It suits us too as our batsmen too are in good nick,” added Jaydev, referring to his side’s strong showing against Maharashtra with Pujara hitting an unbeaten double century and Ravindra Jadeja chipping in with 116 not out.

Both sides are likely to name their playing XIs after Monday’s practice session. (TNN)

Photo: TOI