When it is a contest between two teams separated by five others in an eight-team table, it is advisable to concentrate on individual battles.

A convenient option would be to dwell on Sachin Tendulkar vs Glenn McGrath. But with Tendulkar expected to miss tomorrow’s game, newer avenues need to be explored. Those exclusively tuned to international cricket may be unaware, but domestic regulars see this game as the platform for quite an enthralling duel between two players with a past.

Virender Sehwag is the high-profile Daredevils skipper, but during the last domestic season, he was a batsman trying to find his rhythm in cricket’s hinterlands. During his period of crisis, Sehwag often came across the gritty Mumbai all-rounder Abhishek Nayar, trying to break into the national squad, and somehow constantly getting under the skin of the star.

Sparks might fly

Ask Nayar if sparks are expected to fly at the DY Patil Stadium tomorrow and he gives a tame smile. “Let’s see, there is no point in speaking on such issues,” he says.

Round One between the two was at the Challenger Trophy one-dayers in Ahmedabad. For Nayar, it was a big moment since a place in the India Green squad was a reward for his consistent show in the Ranji Trophy. Being in the India Blue was important for Sehwag too, since the team for the one-dayers was to be selected at the end of the tournament.

So when Nayar came on to bowl, Sehwag hit 24 runs in his first over. His eventual score of 75 helped Sehwag graduate from India Blues to Man in Blue. Nayar, meanwhile, was ruing the missed chance. “Had I performed well there, things would have been different. It was a really bad blow, he hit me all around and seriously it rattled me,” said Nayar.

... contd.