Ranji Trophy: Delhi, Rajasthan bow out; Bengal, Karnataka in quarters

NEW DELHI: It was only tea on the third day of their last Ranji Trophy league game but both Delhi and Rajasthan were formally knocked out of the race for a quarterfinal berth. Bengal and Karnataka advanced to the last-eight stage on Friday after beating Punjab and Baroda respectively. Thus, all five quarterfinal spots from Elite Groups A and B were filled up. The final line-up will be clear on Saturday.
At Kotla, Rajasthan followed on after being dismissed for 299 in response to Delhi’s 623, but players of both teams seemed to have lost interest in the match.There was nothing left to play for. The visitors ended the day (Friday) at 128/2 on a rather flat deck.
Performances hereafter in this match would hold very little significance but it’s still worthwhile to talk about Rajasthan skipper Ashok Menaria’s 119 earlier in the day.
Playing in the domestic circuit for 10 years, the former U-19 India captain has dropped out of the radar of late. He finally found some consistency here. He had scored three centuries in his first three first-class matches in 2008. A lot has changed since then. Rajasthan struggled to remain a force after their back-to-back Ranji titles. And Menaria, like his succeeding U-19 India captain Unmukt Chand, faded away from the limelight.

Menaria puts it down to lack of proper guidance. “I speak to Unmukt regularly. There were three people saying three different things about how to approach my cricket. You listen to too much of advice rather than think on your own. Till Hrishikesh Kanitkar was around in the Rajasthan team, I played my best,” Menaria said about his career.
Rajasthan’s struggle in domestic cricket has been stark after they lost the services of professionals like Aakash Chopra and Kanitkar.
“You could say our cricket was dependent on them. But you have to also keep in mind that our state association was banned. We played under an ad-hoc committee set up by BCCI. The game moves so fast. At times, we were surprised by the equipment used by the other teams,” the 29-year-old said.
He has missed out on an IPL contract and will be keen to end the season on a high by keeping Delhi at bay on the final day.