Delhi decided to change out of their training gear into whites ahead of Saturday’s net session as their red jerseys were clashing with Mumbai’s. Over the next four days at the Ferozeshah Kotla, two evenly matched teams will be looking to change things around, out-think each other, to win a battle that’s as much about points as bragging rights.

This is a contest between two sides that have, between them, won more Ranji titles than any two sides, a game between the two strongest teams in the country historically. In the past, seeing four or five Mumbai players in an Indian line-up was almost a norm, now it’s Delhi who seem to have got the production line going.

Delhi are the defending champions, but haven’t hit the ground running; Mumbai are coming off a disappointing season, but have recorded outright victories against both their opponents so far.

Jaffer vs Chopra

On Saturday morning, the teams ambled in for practice simultaneously. By sheer coincidence, Wasim Jaffer and Aakash Chopra were batting side by side. Both have opened with fair success for India, and both have been scoring consistently since being left behind by Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir.

They batted together for the Board President’s XI against Australia recently. But with Tamil Nadu’s M Vijay stealing the attention after jumping the queue to the India team, both Jaffer and Chopra will be out to prove a point.

Both have been elevated to captaincy this season, and both will be hoping to celebrate this big face-off at a venue that has been their favourite hunting ground over the years. With another batting beauty awaiting them — the grass was shaved off the surface by afternoon and the heavy roller was pressed into duty — plenty of runs should be on offer.

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