PANAJI: Goa coach Dodda Ganesh believes that Amit Verma-led side this season, is a tailor-made product for T20 cricket. The assessment by the former India bowler, ahead of the much-delayed 2020-21 domestic cricket season-opening Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 championship, augurs well for the side, which has some very experienced professionals and young exciting local talents coming through into the Ranji Trophy probables rank.
Placed in Elite Group D and slotted into a bio-bubble in Indore, Goa will take on hosts Madhya Pradesh in their opening match on Monday evening under floodlights at Holkar stadium.
Goa, who played over 20 practice matches, will be pleased with their efforts in a two-month training camp at Goa Cricket Association ground before the team departed from the state at the beginning of the New Year to be secured under the S.O.P quarantine in Indore.
Ahead of the team’s flight to Indore, coach D Ganesh spoke to livenewsgoa.com about the character of the team.
“We have very good professionals. Amit (Verma) is a dignified player, a quality batsman. He led Goa to Plate championship last year. He is setting an example as a captain. We have Ashoke Dinda. He has played for a decade in IPL. He also has a good record in domestic cricket (playing for Bengal). Wicketkeeper-batsman Eknath Kerkar has played for Mumbai. These players have gelled well with Goan players and it is a very good sign as they encourage others..In the mix, are our senior cricketers Darshan Misal, Lakshay Garg, Snehal Kauthankar; and now this team looks brilliant like a tailor-made team for twenty20s. Now it is in our hands to bring glory to Goa Cricket Association,” asserted D Ganesh.
A class act, Amogh Desai will be raring to go after a long absence due to a shoulder problem and coach D Ganesh has already been on record that the 28-year-old has IPL potential. On the other hand, all-rounder Suyash Prabhudesai will be looking to produce a substantial performance to stamp his authority as a highly-talented cricketer with big potential. Moreover with two new teams set to be included in the IPL, youngsters will have extra motivation in this season’s national T20 competition. Some new inclusions in the premier setup of Goa cricket offer exciting prospects in big-hitter Ishaan Gadekar in particular and it will be interesting to see his approach on debut.
Goa squad: Amit Verma, Amogh Desai. Vishambar Kahlon, Maliksab Shirur, Vaibhav Govekar, Ishaan Gadekar, Heramb Parab, Darshan Misal, Deepraj Gaonkar, Snehal Kauthankar, Shubham Dessai, Vijesh Prabhudessai, Ashoke Dinda, Felix Antonio Alemao, Nihal Surlaker, Eknath Dinesh Kerkar, Suyash Prabhudessai, Lakshay Arunkumar Garg, Amulya G Pandrekar, Aditya Kaushik.
