Parag Das

Ranji opener

Dibrugarh, Nov. 22: When Assam take the field here at Jalan outdoor stadium against Kerala tomorrow for the Ranji Trophy lung-opener, it will be with one aim: regaining their Elite group status.

With his task cut out, Assam coach Sanath Kumar K. has decided to experiment with the openers? slot as well as the new ball bowlers. Parag Das, who traditionally opened for Assam with Pervez Aziz or Subhrajit Saikia, will bat at number three while either Mrigen Talukdar or the debutante Krishna Das will share the new ball with R.K. Yadav.

After nets this morning, coach Kumar said his boys were well prepared and committed to putting up a good show. ?We have a very good batting line-up as well as a good combination of pace and spin attack. I hope the boys will play to their potential,? Kumar told The Telegraph.

?Aziz and Jagadeesh Arunkumar will open the innings while Parag will come in at number three. The spin attack will be led by Arlen Konwar and Anand Katti,? he added.

Das was first tried at one-down during the team?s exposure tour to Hyderabad and Bangalore this September. The move paid off and the seasoned all-rounder, going through a lean patch, found his form again.

Chandan Rawat and Gyan Prakash have been left out of the playing XI and either Mrigen Talukdar or Krishna Das will assist R.K. Yadav lead the pace charge. Parag Das and S. Vasanth Saravanan will back up the pacer duo.

?Our biggest plus point this season is the multiple options. Apart from the three pacers, we have Saravanan and Parag. Similarly, in the spin department we have Parvez, Gokul Sharma and Gyan,? the Assam coach said.