Ranji Trophy: Mumbai's Thakkar, Abdulla move to Kerala

Batsman Bhavin Thakkar and left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdulla have left the Mumbai first-class setup to sign up to play for Kerala in the Ranji Trophy.

Iqbal Abdulla has played 50 first-class matches for Mumbai or India A.

Frustrated with the lack of opportunities in Mumbai’s first XI, left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdulla and veteran batsman Bhavin Thakkar have switched allegiance to Kerala for the forthcoming domestic season.

With the deadline for domestic transfers for the coming season expiring on Thursday, it was confirmed that not only have Abdulla and Thakkar acquired the no objection certificates but have also signed contracts as professionals with the Kerala Cricket Association.

Both the players had featured in the last season’s Ranji Trophy final, helping the domestic stalwart clinch its 41st title. While Abdulla was a part of the squad for the whole season, Thakkar got his maiden call-up since returning from Jharkhand after the 2013-14 season in the knockout season. The seasoned Thakkar opened the batting during the semifinal and final before being dropped for the

>Irani Cup game .

While Abdulla remained unavailable, it is understood that the 2008 Under-19 World Cup champion was getting increasingly frustrated with lack of consistent runs as Mumbai’s leading spinner. Competing with fellow left-arm spinners Vishal Dabholkar and Harmeet Singh for a permanent slot, Abdulla was feeling not getting his due. Despite picking wickets regularly, the last time Abdulla featured in all of Mumbai’s matches in a season was in 2010-11.

Since then, he spent half the time in each of the domestic season warming the bench. Since time was running out for him to knock on the national selectors’ door, he is understood to have taken the professional route.

Thakkar had no qualms in voicing his disappointment at having been ignored by the Mumbai selectors from the long list of probables for this season.

“They didn’t consider me this year. After I was picked for the semifinal and the final, I thought I would be back in the scheme and do my duty for Mumbai in the coming years,” Thakkar told Sportstar . “But they didn’t even pick me in the probables and simultaneously I got an opportunity to play for Kerala. After performing so well in the local matches last year, going through the grind, serving a one-year cooling-off period, if they think I am not good for the team, I thought I would take my decision.”

Thakkar was quick to clarify that there was “absolutely no hard feelings”. The veteran, who has featured in three Ranji Trophy finals for Mumbai will thus be playing for his fourth team in the domestic circuit, after his earlier trysts with Himachal Pradesh and Jharkhand.

“That’s how it is. Eventually it’s about enjoying cricket at the top level. Playing first-class cricket anywhere is good, so you have to take your chances,” he concluded.