Nishanta Bordoloi

ranji trophy

Guwahati, Nov. 28: Seasoned top order bat Nishanta Bordoloi has been recalled as vice-captain of the Assam Ranji Trophy team for the Plate Group-A match against Services to be played at Nehru Stadium from December 1 to 4.

The Assam Cricket Association this afternoon named a 16-member squad for the match.

Nishanta, who was rested for the match against Kerala in Silchar on account of a lower back injury, has been certified fit for the tie against Services by physio R.B. Kannan. Nishanta sustained the injury during the rain-infested match against Vidarbha early last week.

ACA sources said the team management and selectors were unanimous over the retention of the same team that won the match against Kerala in Silchar, and so the squad had to be named with an additional batsman in it. The teams usually comprise 15 members.

“We are not for breaking up the winning combination. Full points from the two remaining home matches are crucial for us to qualify for the semifinals after the weather played spoilsport in our bid to gather points from the match against Vidarbha,” a team official told The Telegraph.

As Nishanta’s replacement in the last match, Tauhid Ali Talukdar, was not tested, the automatic choice for selectors to make room for the seasoned batsman’s return was to drop one of the top order batsmen, Souvik Das and Saurav Bhagawati, who have not been making runs in the last three matches. However, sources said the team management felt both Souvik and Saurav were indispensable for their fielding skills.

An insider said the team management would opt for two spinners in the match against Services, hinting that Bitop Mahanta might have sit out to make room for Nishanta in the playing XI.

Arlen Konwar is a mainstay spinner in the team while left-arm spinner Bichitra Baruah was outstanding with his turners in the last tie in Silchar.

The squad: S. Sharath (capt), Nishanta Bordoloi (v-c), Rajdeep Das (wk), Sadagoppan Ramesh, S. Suresh, Tazinder Singh, Palashjyoti Das, Dhiraj Goswami, Bichitra Baruah, Arlen Konwar, Krishna Das, Mrigen Talukdar, Souvik Das, Saurav Bhagawati, Tauhid Ali Talukdar and Bitop Mahanta.