Focus on Prithvi Shaw, Ajinkya Rahane as Mumbai take on Karnataka

Focus will be firmly on Test specialist Ajinkya Rahane and young prodigy Prithvi Shaw when Mumbai take on Karnataka in ir Ranji Trophy Elite Group B game, beginning here on Friday. Both Rahane and Shaw failed with bat in last Ranji game versus Railways which domestic giants lost by 10 wickets inside two and half days.

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importance of this contest for both

It will be a good opportunity for two players to get some runs under ir belt. This will be last Ranji match for Shaw, who departs for New Zealand with India 'A' team on January 10. It will be a good opportunity for two players to get some runs under ir belt. This will be last Ranji match for Shaw, who departs for New Zealand with India 'A' team on January 10.

pint-sized opener got starts but was t able to convert in last game, following his double hundred in lung-opener against Baroda. Shaw will have to counter Karnataka's attack in slightly windy conditions at Bandra-Kurla Complex ground.

For Rahane, who has played 63 Tests, Karnataka game provides perfect platform to find form before he also departs for New Zealand. Also, Mumbai needs to improve in all departments after embarrassing loss against Railways at home.

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Suryakumar Yadav hoping to shine for Mumbai

41-time Ranji champions will miss services of India players Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube and pacer Shardul Thakur, who will be on national duty. In ir absence, it will be a chance for likes of skipper Suryakumar Yadav, crisis man Siddhesh Lad and experienced Aditya Tare to make a mark. Also, if ar player Sarfaraz Khan, who has been named in squad, makes playing XI, n it will be an opportunity for him to make it count.

Yadav also heads for New Zealand with India A team on January 10. bowlers will be led by Tushar Deshpande. Meanwhile, Karnataka would t have services of India opener Mayank Agarwal but have likes of skipper Karun Nair, opener Devdutt Padikkal to do job. ir pace bowling attack, led by prolific Abhimanyu Mithun, will pose a huge challenge to Mumbai side.

BCCI has asked Mayank to rest in view of upcoming season and hence he would t be playing game, said sources in Karnataka team.

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