Railways prepare turner for Bengal

A track expected to take sharp turn awaits Bengal at the Karnail Singh Stadium in their final Ranji Trophy league match against Railways, who need an outright win to boost their chances of jumping from sixth spot into the top three of a tightly contested Group A and qualifying for the quarter-finals.

Railways' decision to go in with three spinners is a clear indication of the home team's reading of the surface. "Traditionally, the Karnail Singh pitch does turn, and we are expecting it to do so for this game," Abhay Sharma, the Railways coach, told ESPNcricinfo. There have been reports saying the wicket looks under-prepared, and Bengal are sure it will turn viciously. "I won't be surprised if I find the spinners get into action from the very first hour tomorrow," Manoj Tiwary, the Bengal captain, told PTI. WV Raman, the former India opener and Bengal coach, echoed Tiwary's opinion. "This is a pitch that will do a lot of things."

A source from the Bengal camp was more forthright. "The pitch is really under-prepared. Or should I say carefully prepared," he told ESPNcricinfo. "The good-length spots are so dry; I expect it to crumble and the ball to start exploding from it. It will be a very interesting first day's play."

Abhay, however, brushed aside concerns about the pitch. "Everyone can have an opinion. It seemed fine to me when I left the ground today. The curator has done his job, and the match referee is there to oversee things."

The Railways coach, who knows the Karnail Singh wicket better than most do, said that at times it behaves the exact opposite of what it is expected to. "Sometimes you think it's going to turn, but even one innings does not get completed." Having banked on a spin-heavy attack, Railways will surely be hoping that turn comes into play. They are playing legspinning allrounder Karan Sharma and left-arm spinner Nilesh Chauhan, apart from lead spinner Murali Kartik. While this will be Karan's first game of the season, Chauhan will be playing only his second first-class match.

Bengal are currently one point ahead of Railways, and the preparation of a result-oriented pitch could work in their favour as well, as they too need an outright win to bolster their chances of qualification. They will be hoping that the presence of former India captain Sourav Ganguly works in their favour. This will only be Ganguly's second match of the season, after the rain-marred game against Tamil Nadu where Bengal didn't get a chance to bat.

"The kind of experience he (Ganguly) has will help Bengal," says Sanjay Bangar, who is leading Railways after Kartik opted to concentrate on his bowling. Raman thinks it'll depend on how Ganguly feels mentally. "At this level and the kind of player Sourav is, it's more about mentally fine-tuning yourself for a first-class match."

Even with an outright win, both teams would need results from the other matches to go in their favour. Click here for the quarterfinal scenarios.