Skipper Aditya Tare feels Mumbai's 500th Ranji Trophy match is special

41-time Ranji Trophy champions, Mumbai are certainly one of the most consistent sides in Indian domestic circuit. On Thursday (November 9), the team from the western part of India will take on Baroda in what will be their 500th Ranji Trophy tie. The current skipper of Mumbai, Aditya Tare feels it is going to be a very special match for his boys.

Winning one game and drawing the other two, Mumbai is currently placed 3rd in Group C of this season’s Ranji Trophy. Their opponents Baroda, however, haven’t managed to win a match yet. They have drawn two games and ended up as the losers in one match. The landmark match is going to be played in Mumbai’s very own, the iconic Wankhede Stadium.

“It is a special game for us. It is a great feeling to be playing the 500th Ranji Trophy game for a terrific side. It is going to be a great game for us. We feel we are quite fortunate to be the squad that will be playing the 500th game. There has been a huge contribution right from the inception of Mumbai cricket. Fortunately it is us who are playing the 500th game. Congratulations to everyone who has been part of the Mumbai team,” said the skipper who can now avail the services of national team players Ajinkya Rahane and Shreyas Iyer, as per reports in PTI.

“There is going to be a great vibe to the game. But, we are going to treat it as just another game of cricket, which is important for us, and we want to win it. So, we will play with positive intent and hopefully try and get maximum points from the game. We are playing at the Wankhede after a long time. It is great to be coming back to the dressing room at the home ground. Obviously with a good strength in the squad as well,” the 30-year-old further added.

Andhra is currently the top-placed side in Mumbai’s group, having bagged 5 points more than Mumbai after playing a match more. Speaking about the crucial tie, the owner of 7 first-class tons said “Every game from now on is important. We know that we have two teams ahead of us in the points table and we have to do the catching up.”

“I look at it as any other game, (and) not as Mumbais 500th. I dont follow the (league) table. It’s a good wicket for fast bowlers here. The ball will move. Baroda has always been a good team. A lot of cricketers come out of it. At the moment, they are a young team but they are always dangerous. A few unknown players, you don’t know what their strength and weaknesses are,” he further went on.

Tare avoids Baroda’s selection disputes

Quite dramatically, Baroda appointed a new skipper in Deepak Hooda by releasing the veteran all-rounder, Irfan Pathan, who was the actual skipper of the side, from his duties. When the Mumbai skipper was asked about it, he chose to dodge the question and replied “I dont know what’s the reason. It’s an Association (Baroda cricket body) decision.”