Mumbai looking to force a result, concedes Aditya Tare

Mumbai looking to force a result, concedes Aditya Tare

It's been five half-centuries and a fighting 48 against Tamil Nadu in the seaming Lahli wicket this Ranji Trophy season, but Aditya Tare is yet to score a century. What's always been noteworthy about all these six innings is the fact that he had walked out when his team was in precarious situations and bailed them out of trouble without fail. On a personal front, the knock wouldn't be worth showing-off but it has done the job for his side.

Monday (January 2) was no different. Coming in to bat at No. 4, with Mumbai reeling at 128 for 4 and the momentum seized away, he first combined with Shreyas Iyer to see Mumbai safely though to Stumps on Day 2 and then in company of the veteran Abhishek Nayar, turned the tables on Tamil Nadu on the third day. "Last session yesterday neutralised the balance a bit. But I think from 120 for 4 and 190 for 5, we recovered really well," Tare said after the day's play.

"190 for 5 in the morning looked a bit difficult in the morning," he added. "Abhishek Nayar and I had to stand in. It looked a bit difficult. At the moment the scoreboard looks good, but it could have been better," he summed up after Mumbai managed to overhaul Tamil Nadu's first innings score of 306. Tare was at the crease along with Nayar when Mumbai went past their score, en route a 121-run stand for the sixth wicket.

During the course of their innings, in a surprising decision, Abhinav Mukund chose not to take the new ball despite having three in-form pacers in the line-up. "After 80 overs you always have an eye on when the new ball is coming. We were both settled at that point. So Abhinav must have thought (of avoiding it) because new ball comes nicely on to the bat. So that's one gamble a captain is always in a position to take."

Having seen Mumbai through the first innings hurdle, both Nayar and Tare departed in quick succession soon after. However, Balwinder Sandhu and Shardul Thakur didn't allow Tamil Nadu to seize the initiative. Both the tailenders batted for over two hours each to frustrate the opposition bowlers in conditions that weren't quite conducive for bowling. While Tare praised their contribution, he wasn't too surprised by their performance.

"The way the lower order has contributed, especially Shardul and Ballu, it has added a lot of value to those runs we have scored. The last five wickets have always added runs. That is how Mumbai wins matches in crucial games. Our bowlers don't give up. They show that attitude in the middle while batting as well.

"I'm glad that we could do it today as well. It's in our culture, it's in our nature to add runs down the tail. That has helped us over the years. That is something we need to carry on. All the bowlers who come in, need to value that and score runs down the order. Because those runs are very critical and that is what pushes the opposition down."

Shardul joined Suryakumar Yadav, Nayar and Tare in scoring half centuries. However, like the remaining three, he too couldn't convert it into a big one. Not giving any excuses for the batsmen's failure to convert the starts into big innings, Tare said that it is an area of concern that needs to be addressed.

"Three-four of our guys got to 50s and couldn't convert. That isn't a great sign as far as our batting unit is concerned and collectively we have to find a solution to that. We are at a great juncture in the tournament where we can achieve excellence. That's an area we need to improve and find a solution."

Tare, more than anyone else in the team, is guilty of not posting big scores and he makes no bones about that. After making a solid 83, he drove to the fielder at cover on the up to give his wicket away. "That's what happens with me all the time. It's rarely a bowler who gets me out, it's always my batting. That is one area I have to improve.I have been getting important runs for my team and winning matches. There is always that time in a batsman's career where he finds it difficult to get that big score."

Mumbai did manage to post a crucial lead in the first innings, something that should hold them in good stead to qualify for the finals. However, the Mumbai skipper says that they are not going to rely on the first innings lead and instead push for an outright win. While Tamil Nadu will have to attack in order to push their chances, Tare says, "We too will have an aggressive mindset. We won't look to defend. We will come out and play aggressive cricket and look to force a result."