Vijay Hazare Trophy 2023 Final Preview: Haryana and Rajasthan to fight it out for title after defying expectations
The HinduAbout a week ago, a final between Haryana and Rajasthan, with no limited-overs titles to show for between them, would have seemed a distant possibility. But after defying expectations and flipping the script with hard-fought wins in the semifinals, neighbours Haryana and Rajasthan will lock horns in the title clash of the Vijay Hazare Trophy at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium here on Saturday. Ashok Menaria, who captained Rajasthan until this year in the Ranji Trophy and plied his trade for his state for almost 15 years, is leading Haryana’s charge this season. Meanwhile, Hooda, born in Haryana’s Rohtak, is helming Rajasthan’s bid to make it to its first 50-over final since the 2006-07 season, when the tournament was dubbed the Ranji One-Day Trophy. Though Rajasthan has more players with international gametime – Hooda, Khaleel Ahmed and Rahul Chahar – journeyman Aniket Choudhary, Arafat Khan and left-arm spinner Kukna Ajay Singh have also added teeth to the bowling.