IT would be appropriate to call the Ranji Trophy Plate League encounter between Services and Madhya Pradesh as the battle between the top and bottom sides of Group B — Services are yet to open their account, and Madhya Pradesh, who wiped the floor with Assam in their previous match, have notched up fifteen points so far.

After a spate of defeats, Services have a new-look team with only RS Jhala at helm and many new faces likely to feature. On the eve of the match, RS Jhala stressed on the bowling-dominated combination.

“We are going to play five bowlers, three spinners and two medium pacers. (Suvra) Karmakar will miss out due to his injury; (AK) Mohanty hasn’t been effective. We are playing more spinners but that’s not going to weaken our batting in any way as two of them will be batting all-rounders. Our mainstays Jasbir (Singh) and Yashpal (Singh) have been flopping, but we hope the current combination will click,” said Jhala. Veteran Arun Sharma is certain to make the cut as the only left-arm spinner replacing Karmakar, Yashpal Singh will be the key to Services’ batting woes.

From Madhya Pradesh, Sunil Dholpure (18 wickets in three matches) and Hrishikesh Kanitkar (204 runs in three matches) might give the host team a run for their money.