Odisha will be meeting Tripura in their first Group-C encounter of the Ranji Trophy at the Vikash Ground here on Friday. Ahead of the encounter, the Odisha team was seen sweating it out in the nets.
Odisha skipper Govinda Poddar who performed well in the last season is hopeful of performing better this year. “For the last one month we have been preparing very well and the intensity within the team is quite high. We are looking forward to deliver on a fresh wicket here,” said Poddar.
Shantanu Mishra is the only new face while senior batsman and former captain Natraj Behera has been brought back into the Odisha squad. Tripura led by MS Mura Singh are also charged up for the first game and are busy with their net practice.
Chief coach Shiv Sundar Das expressed his satisfaction over the venue and pitch. He has a lot of expectations that the team will do well in the first game.