Ranji Trophy: Kerala to face Bengal at KCA ground in Mangalapuram on Monday

Kerala will play Bengal in an Elite Group C Ranji Trophy match at the KCA ground, Mangalapuram on Monday, carrying the momentum of an innings win over Odisha into the four-day fixture.

Kerala recovered from early wickets to post a total in excess of 400 against Odisha, powered by centuries from Sachin Baby and Mohammed Azharuddeen, and the spin trio of Jalaj Saxena, Aditya Sarvate and Vaisakh Chandran proved lethal on the helpful wicket at the Greenfield International Cricket Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.

The KCA stadium presents a different challenge for the hosts, who do not have a good record there; the surface offers early assistance to the pacers and then tends to favour batters before natural deterioration makes batting challenging on the final two days.

Kerala’s tactical framework requires vital adjustments to counter Bengal’s deep batting line-up and potent multi-dimensional bowling attack, with the hosts expected to rethink their approach to take on the visitors’ strengths.

Bengal’s top order — led by captain Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sudip Gharami and Abhishek Porel — is in fine nick this season, and the pace attack spearheaded by Mohammed Kaif and potentially by Mohammed Shami, if he is fit to play on Monday, poses a significant threat to Kerala.

The Bengal spin options are also notable: Shahbaz Ahmed, Pradipta Pramanik and Aamir Gani, who fashioned the comeback win against Services, are capable of troubling the hosts in the right conditions.

Heavy rain on the eve of the match cancelled the net sessions of both teams; given the likelihood of early moisture for the pacers the toss will be crucial and both teams will seek a safety-first approach to minimise the top order damage, and with Eden Apple Tom injured Kerala looks a little weak in the pace bowling department which Bengal will look to exploit.

The four-day fixture begins on Monday at the KCA ground in Mangalapuram.