Ranji Trophy and Beyond - Domestic Mattai Pandhu viLayAttu

The incident happened in the 80th over of the Bengal innings, leading to Bengal players, led by coach Ashok Malhotra and pacer Ashok Dinda, laying into Kartik — a senior player even calling him a 'cheat.' Malhotra confronted Kartik as the latter made his way into the dressing room during the lunch break.

"You are an India player and this is how you play. Is this is an example you set for juniors?" The former India batsman screamed at the Railways skipper. Kartik, not known for taking things lying down, shot back at Malhotra and asked him to keep shut.

The Bengal contingent kept going at Kartik, so much so that match referee B Kalyansundaram had to intervene to calm things down.

Speaking after the end of the day's play, Malhotra said, "I don't see him (Kartik) bowling or batting. Probably he is there for 'Mankading' a 21-year-old youngster. What does that little boy learn about spirit of the game," Malhotra said at the end of the day's play.

"I can understand if you were playing one-day cricket where a batsman tries to steal a single. I am not talking about rules but about the spirit of the game," he added. When asked if he and the senior Bengal player were sanctioned by Kalyansundaram, Malhotra said, "I haven't but I will and I know that."

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“If you have to fiddle with pitches so much then you are not fit for playing Test cricket,” fumed Sundaram, referring to Gambhir’s repeated insistence on getting the grass shaved off to make it a turner,” Sundaram said.

“I had got three pitches ready with one on which we had grown grass. They (Delhi team management) got the grass shaved off and now they are not playing on that track. Instead, they have chosen the centre wicket. We have made it match ready,” Sundaram added.

On a day Jammu & Kashmir were humbled by Tamil Nadu here on Tuesday, the visiting team coach Sunil Joshi did not mince words -labelling the wicket as `unsporting'. “If the BCCI talks about preparing a sporting wicket fordomestic matches, then this wicket surely isn't one!“ lamented Joshi, looking visibly upset after his team's show.

According to the 44-yearold former India player-the match, which ended in three days, finished a tad late. “I think we were hoping the match would finish in two days' time after having looked at the wicket,“ said Joshi in a sarcastic tone.

Interestingly , while Shubham Khajuria was the only J&K player to score a half-century for his side, the hosts had Abhinav Mukund hitting a century , while B Aparajith and Malolan Rangarajan contributing with useful halfcenturies. “I am not taking the credit out from their side.They are a more experienced side, and knew how to bat on this wicket,“ pointed out Joshi.


The hosts definitely seemed to have applied themselves better than their opponents.

While Abhinav left a lot of deliveries while scoring 137 in the second innings, the J&K batsmen were guilty of getting out to some ordinary shots. J&K skipper Parvez Rasool is a case in point. Arriving at the crease with his side at 3-93, one would have ex pected Rasool to show more restraint upfront. But that wasn't the case as he tried to go over the top, in the process gifting a simple catch to B In drajith off Aushik to depart for a duck. Not surprisingly , Joshi de fended his batsmen saying the tricky wicket made them play the way they did. “I think the wicket was such that the batsmen will look at it, and start thinking as to what shots they can play and get out before they play a stroke,“ . said Joshi.



The J&K coach did have a long chat with his team after the match. “I just told them that we will find good wickets to bat and bowl in the coming games. It's the beginning of the season, and not the end,“ said Joshi.

Barring the wicket, Joshi was all praise for the venue and the tremendous crowd support. “Take the pitch out of the equation, and it was a fantastic venue, great atmo sphere, good facilities and good weather,“ said Joshi.