Tendulkar returns to favourite Chennai for Ranji semis

Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan both making a Ranji Trophy appearance after playing the 2006-07 final will surely steal the limelight in Mumbai's semi-final against Saurashtra, which starts at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.

Tendulkar returns to favourite Chennai for Ranji semis

Mumbai's most-capped player Amol Muzumdar jokes around during a training session at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday. Muzumdar is expected to play when Mumbai take on Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy semi-final on Sunday. u00a0ATUL Kamble

But the presence of the batting maestro and bowling genius has created a sweet selection problem for skipper Wasim Jaffer and coach Praveen Amre. The inclusion of both the stalwarts effectively means that either Sairaj Bahutule or Amol Muzumdar both veteran servants of Mumbai cricket for over a decade and half would have to sit out.

While announcing the XII for the tie, skipper Wasim Jaffer said the final team would be taken on the morning of the match. "It is going to be a tough call but it's in the best interest of the team," Jaffer said. "We will have a look at the wicket and then finalise the playing XI." The wicket incidentally is the same as the one on which India beat England in a Test match recently.

However, SUNDAY MiD DAY learnt later in the day that Bahutule, who has had a moderate season so far since his return to Mumbai after a three-year stint with Maharashtra, would be the unlucky one. Unless Mumbai decide to go in with two specialist spinners on a track that is likely to offer slow turn on the last two days, Bahutule, who has only nine wickets from the six matches at 48 runs apiece, will be left out.

Muzumdar's maiden ton in Mumbai's last league tie, against Punjab, seems to have gone in the 34-year-old's favour.

That's not all. The team management seems to have considered Muzumdar's approaching milestone. The loyal servant of Mumbai cricket, with 7,582 runs in the premier domestic tournament, is 42 runs shy of overtaking Amarjeet Kaypee to become the highest run-getter in the Ranji Trophy history.

Muzumdar, already the most-capped player and highest scorer for Mumbai in the prestigious tournament, seems to have a liking to reaching milestones in the semi-finals. In the last four tie of the 2006-07 season, while leading the side against Baroda, Muzumdar had taken over Ashok Mankad to become Mumbai's highest scorer in Ranji Trophy.

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