Bengal arrive at a curious moment in their season. Their recent Ranji form across two games suggests neither collapse nor confidence, just a team marking time in the middle. In January they drew against themselves in a rain-affected contest, scoring 519 in one first-class encounter before managing only 205 in another. The variation speaks not to inconsistency but to how the long-form game can shift beneath you without warning.
Andhra, meanwhile, have shown something more substantial. Their first innings of 708 against the same opponents just days ago was a statement of sorts, even if it ended in a draw. They posted 487 in another drawn match weeks earlier, and what stands out to me is the weight of runs they've been able to accumulate this season. That kind of patience and depth in their batting order suggests a side comfortable occupying the crease for long periods, which is precisely what knockout cricket demands.
Still,
Bengal's home advantage cannot be dismissed lightly. Domestic quarter-finals are often defined by conditions as much as form, and Eden Gardens or whichever venue hosts this match will tilt slightly in favour of the home side. Their recent Ranji outing saw them concede 393 in reply to their 205, but that doesn't necessarily point to fragility, just the reality of competitive domestic cricket where any lapse is punished.
It's hard to ignore the fact that
Bengal have won four of their last ten matches, whereas
Andhra have only managed three wins in the same period. Yet in a format that rewards draws and first-innings leads, perhaps
Andhra's ability to pile on runs and avoid defeat matters more than
Bengal's scattered victories in limited-overs tournaments.
Both sides are capable on their day, and neither can be written off in a format this unforgiving. But if
Andhra bring the same application they showed in compiling that 708, and if their batting order holds its nerve, they may have enough to edge this. Not a certainty, just a lean toward the side that looks more settled in the red-ball rhythm right now.
