It’s a team that’s brimming with talent, and despite the absence of their star player Ambati Rayudu (part of the squad for the tri-series in Australia), Baroda looks rock solid at the top of the order this season. The bedrock for this solidity at the top has been laid by their opening duo of Saurabh Wakaskar and Kedar Devdhar. In a team, which boasts of experienced pros like the Pathan brothers these two youngsters have been the cornerstone in Baroda getting starts in excess of 100 in the first innings.

Wakaskar, 23, has notched up scores of 63, 24*, 94, 172 and 24 in the four matches so far, while 25-year-old Kedar Devdhar too has scored a century and two fifties so far. The duo have given Baroda 100+ stands against Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. This season has, however, been a redemption of sorts for Kedar Devdhar. Last season, he was battling indifferent form and fitness. This season he stroked his career-best 146 against Uttar Pradesh.

Ahead of the Ranji Trophy game against Railways, the 25-year-old shrugs off the tag of Baroda’s “batting mainstay,” saying its his hard work, which is finally paying off. “There were certain technical flaws that had crept into my game last season. I had begun to play across the line too often, which had made me a prime candidate for LBWs. I had discussed the issue with my seniors, and they had suggested to me to keep it simple and play straight. I guess playing with a straight bat ruled out the possibilities of LBWs and it helped me score more freely this season,” the diminutive opener said.

Going for his shots

Kedar’s 146 may be his highest score, but many rate the 87 he scored in the Ranji opener against Bengal as more accomplished. What stood out in that innings was his pull shot. Team-mate Munaf Patel is Kedar’s biggest fan. “Kedar badiya player hain yaar….usne jis tarah Dinda ko pull kiya…dekhne laayak tha,” Munaf said referring to his innings against Bengal. “Playing the pull shot comes naturally to me…if the bowlers bowl short, I will go for my shots,” Kedar said.

Despite the good form at the top of the order, Baroda would do well to play the Railways’ opening bowlers with care. “The wicket is fresh and with cool weather conditions and a strong breeze, the seamers will come into play in the morning sessions. Railways, with K. Upadhyay and Anureet Singh, have a good new-ball attack at their disposal and if they get first use of the wicket here, we have to be watchful against them early on,” he said.

Curator Sanjiv Agarwal is confident the pitch will play consistently for four days and will stay true and good for batting. “The wicket is fresh and will primarily favour the batsmen. However, due to the cool conditions in the morning, it will seam around a bit, but by and large it is a batting friendly wicket,” Agarwal said.

Fresh from their emphatic 10-wicket victory against Uttar Pradesh, courtesy, Irfan Pathan’s all-round show, Baroda start favourites against a struggling Railways side. The win against UP has given them a bonus point, which puts them behind group leaders Karnataka.

Meanwhile, the hosts, yet to win a game in four attempts, have 9 points in their kitty.