In this blog post, we will focus on the Ratnagiri Team, which is one of the new entrants in the league. The Maharashtra Premier League (MPL) is a T20 cricket tournament organized by the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA). The first edition of the league was held in 2009 and was revived in 2023 after a decade-long gap. The MPL 2023 will feature six teams representing six cities of Maharashtra: Pune, Kolhapur, Nashik, Sambhajinagar, Solapur and Ratnagiri.
We will look at their team squad, their icon player, their matches and their chances of winning the title.
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Ratnagiri Team Squad
The Ratnagiri team was bought for INR 6.8 crore by a consortium of businessmen led by Mr. Rajesh Patil. The team has chosen Azim Kazi, a left-handed batsman and a left-arm orthodox spinner, as their icon player. Kazi has played for Maharashtra in the Ranji Trophy and has also represented India A in a few matches. He is known for his aggressive batting and his ability to bowl economical overs in the middle overs.
The team squad for Ratnagiri was selected through an auction held on June 6, 2023. Ratnagiri team had a purse of INR 20 lakh and had to pick a minimum of 16 players. The team squad for Ratnagiri is as follows:
| Player Name | Role | Base Price |
|---|---|---|
| Azim Kazi (Icon) | All-rounder | INR 60,000 |
| Swapnil Gugale | Batsman | INR 60,000 |
| Naushad Shaikh | Batsman | INR 60,000 |
| Ankit Bawne | Batsman | INR 60,000 |
| Rahul Tewatia | All-rounder | INR 60,000 |
| Mukesh Choudhary | Bowler | INR 60,000 |
| Samad Fallah | Bowler | INR 60,000 |
| Rajesh Pawar | Bowler | INR 40,000 |
| Rohit Motwani (WK) | Wicket-keeper/Batsman | INR 40,000 |
| Rutwik Shinde | All-rounder | INR 40,000 |
| Rajvardhan Deshpande | All-rounder | INR 40,000 |
| Rajesh Bishnoi Jr. | Batsman | INR 30,000 |
| Rahul Tripathi Jr. | Batsman | INR 30,000 |
| Mohsin Khan (WK) | Wicket-keeper/Batsman | INR 30,000 |
| Ravi Jangid (C) | All-rounder | INR 30,000 |
| Rakesh Yadav (WK) | Wicket-keeper/Batsman | INR 30,000 |
Young Players in Ratnagiri Team for MPL 2023
The team has a balanced mix of experienced and young players. The team has a strong batting line-up with players like Gugale, Shaikh, Bawne and Tewatia who can score big runs. The team also has some quality all-rounders like Kazi, Shinde and Deshpande who can contribute with both bat and ball. The bowling department is led by Choudhary and Fallah who are both left-arm pacers with good variations. The team also has some spin options in Pawar, Jangid and Kazi.
The team is coached by former India spinner Nilesh Kulkarni and mentored by former India batsman Pravin Amre². The team captain is Ravi Jangid who is also an all-rounder.
Ratnagiri Matches
The MPL 2023 will be played from June 15 to June 29 at the MCA International Stadium in Gahunje, Pune. The tournament will follow a double round-robin format where each team will play against each other twice. The top four teams will qualify for the playoffs which will consist of two qualifiers and an eliminator. The final will be played on June 29.
The matches for Ratnagiri are as follows:
| Date | Time | Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| June 15, 2023 | 7:30 PM IST | Pune |
| June 16, 2023 | 3:30 PM IST | Kolhapur |
| June 18, 2023 | 7:30 PM IST | Nashik |
| June 19, 2023 | 3:30 PM IST | Sambhajinagar |
| June 21, 2023 | 7:30 PM IST | Solapur |
| June 23, 2023 | 7:30 PM IST | Pune |
| June 24, 2023 | 3:30 PM IST | Kolhapur |
| June 26, 2023 | 7:30 PM IST | Nashik |
| June 27, 2023 | 3:30 PM IST | Sambhajinagar |
| June 28, 2023 | 7:30 PM IST | Solapur |
The matches will be broadcast live on DD Sports and an OTT platform. You can also catch the live updates and scorecards on the official website of the MCA.
Ratnagiri Chances of Winning
Ratnagiri is a new team in the MPL and will face tough competition from the other teams. However, the team has some talented players who can perform well in the T20 format. This team will rely on their icon player Azim Kazi who can change the course of the game with his all-round skills. The team will also hope that their captain Ravi Jangid can lead from the front and inspire the team to play as a unit.
Ratnagiri team will have to overcome some challenges such as adapting to the conditions in Pune, coping with the pressure of playing in front of a large crowd and handling the expectations of their fans. The team will also have to be consistent and avoid complacency in their matches.
Ratnagiri team has the potential to surprise everyone and reach the playoffs if they play to their strengths and execute their plans well. The team will have to play with passion, determination and teamwork to achieve their goal of winning the MPL title.
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