UP skipper confident to win Irani cup tie

Lucknow, Oct 8 (UNI) Leading the state side in the absence of Mohd Kaif and Suresh Raina, Uttar Pradesh skipper Jyoti Yadav promises to give tough opposition to Wasim Jafar-led Rest of India in Irani trophy match commencing October 9 at Nagpur.

''We have a heady mix of experience and some exciting young talents to bank upon and the onward march of UP would continue,'' the left hander batsman told UNI over phone from Nagpur.

Admitting that he was feeling the pressure specially in the wake of recent successes of his state team under Kaif and recently in the stewardship of Raina, Jyoti said that he would try to keep UP's flag flying in the season opener Irani match.

UP,the Ranji champion, has given some sterling performances in the recent past with Kaif, Raina , R P Singh and Peeyush Chawla already making the national grade while likes of Praveen Kumar and Ravi Kant Shukla knocking the doors.

Jyoti Yadav, who has led UP on earlier occasion also, said that the team given to him by the selectors was the most balanced side.

The team is already elated after defeating the Sialkhot team of Pakistan in the inaugural Mohammad Nissar trophy at Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh.

'' Ravikant, Rizwan Shamshad and myself have managed decent scores in the match and some effective bowling by R P Singh, Shalabh Srivastava, Pravin Kumar and Peeyush Chawla saw us through,''he said. Adding '' we would maintain the same tempo in the Irani match fully knowing that it is going to a a tough call as many of the rest players would try their best to get selectors' nod for the future.

The cricket lovers of the state would be keenly observing the growth of junior cricket star Tanmay Srivasatava, who is making Ranji debut in this match after a string of big scores on Under-19 tour of England and Pakistan.

Jyoti also has full faith in Tanmay and other youngsters saying they are full of talent and energy which would be utilised to the optimum.

UP team: Jyoti Yadav(captain), Rizwan Shamshad, Gyanendra Pandey, Ashish Winston Zaidi, Ravikant Shukla, Shivakant Shukla, Shalabh Srivastava, Praveen Kumar, Rohit Prakash, Piyush Chawla, Mohammad Amir Khan, Tanmay Srivastava, Ratnesh Mishra, Avinash Yadav, Anshul Kapoor.

Rest Of India team: Wasim Jaffer (capitan), Venugopala Rao( vice- captain), Robin Uthapa, Gautam Gambhir, S Badrinath, Dinesh Kaarthick, VRV Singh, S Sreesanth, Zaheer Khan, Murali Kartik Pragyan Ojha, Rohit Sharma, Sourashish Lahiri, Yo Mahesh.

UNI SB MB AB KP133UNI test1321