The scenic KIIT University ground will host a first-class match for the first time

Odisha and Delhi are all set to tread the unknown territory when they meet in the Ranji Trophy Group A match at the KIIT Cricket Stadium here on Friday.
Set in scenic surroundings, the little-known KIIT University ground — which will host a first-class match for the first time — puts the two sides on even keel. Both fancy their chances in conditions that may assist the pacers early on and reward batsmen, who show application.
“The pitch does not have any grass, but is expected to provide good bounce. It is an encouraging sign for our fast bowlers,” said Delhi coach Vijay Dahiya on Thursday.
Notwithstanding the on-field brawl between its skipper Gautam Gambhir and Bengal captain Manoj Tiwary in the last match, Delhi will take heart from its fighting performance at the Ferozeshah Kotla last week.
The touring team may bank on its pace quartet of Parvinder Awana, Sumit Narwal, Pradeep Sangwan and Navdeep Saini to deliver a better result this time. Here, the contribution of in-form left-arm spinner Manan Sharma will be more than useful.
Talented young batsman Dhruv Shorey is likely to make his first class debut, while wicketkeeper-batsman Puneet Bisht, replacing Rishabh Pant, is all set to make the playing XI. Delhi, which holds on to its top spot with 15 points, must be delighted to see its younger batsmen, such as Milind Kumar and Nitish Rana, showing a lot of responsibility.
“We play our cricket like this and we will continue to do so,” he said.
The visiting side will also be keen to see its captain Gambhir back among runs. Odisha, which has been trying to overcome its batting woes, is excited after recording an outright win over Assam.
Captain Biplab Samantray had no hesitation in accepting that the host would rely on its traditional strength of pace bowling, led by Basant Mohanty, Suryakant Pradhan and himself, to make an impact.
Odisha will field at least three seamers apart from left-arm spinner Dhiraj Singh. “This is the right time to step up the momentum. If we put up a decent total, then our bowlers are capable of taking 20 wickets,” said Samantray.
The host, which is placed sixth with eight points from three outings, will expect its prominent scorers — Govind Poddar, who has notched up two centuries and a half-century in three matches, and Anurag Sarangi — to click against the probing Delhi bowlers.
The contest between two attacking sides should provide some fascinating action.
The teams (from): Odisha: Biplab Samantray (capt.), Natraj Behera, Girija Rout, Govind Poddar (vice-capt.), Anurag Sarangi, Pratik Das, Abhilash Mallick, P. Roshan Kumar Rao (wk), Basant Mohanty, Deepak Behera, Suryakanta Pradhan, Alok Sahoo, Dhiraj Singh, Amit Das, Alok Mangaraj, Rajesh Dhuper.
Delhi: Gautam Gambhir (capt.), Mohit Sharma, Puneet Bisht (wk), Nitish Rana, Dhruv Shorey, Vaibhav Rawal, Pawan Negi, Manan Sharma, Sumit Narwal, Navdeep Saini, Parvinder Awana, Subodh Bhati, Pulkit Narang, Pradeep Sangwan, Milind Kumar.