Ranji Trophy Plate Group : If they execute their plans well, results will follow: Coach Siddharth Trivedi
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 15 2025: Manipur Senior Men's Cricket team Coach Siddharth Trivedi has emphasized focusing on the process rather than the point table to ensure players concentrate on performing well as Manipur host Meghalaya in a crucial final Ranji Trophy Plate Group tie at CK Pithawala Ground, Surat from tomorrow (November 16).Manipur are on top of the Plate Group table with 17 points from 2 wins and 2 drawn matches and require only one point to make top-two finish and qualify for the Elite division next season.

On being asked about one crucial point to qualify for the final in a telephonic conversation, Siddharth Trivedi said that his team are focusing on the process rather than the point table, ensuring players concentrate on performing well in bowling, batting, and fielding.

He also exuded confidence that the result will follow if the players execute their plans well and eventually qualify for the finals.

"It's all about the process.

We are not looking at the points table.

We are just taking one game at a time.

And our boys are just focusing on doing the right things that they've been doing the entire tournament," he said.

"If we do all the three departments well, the point table will automatically be taken care of.

We have made sure that the atmosphere remains the same, even if we are at the top.

We want to win this game as we have in the other games," he said.

Regarding the previous match where Manipur were close to registering a landslide win against Mizoram and earn the final ticket but ended up securing a 5-wicket win, Siddharth Trivedi attributed the early collapse to pitch conditions and pace and laxity on the part of the players in view of the small target.

He said, "It was the fourth day, the wicket was also keeping a little bit and there was too much pace.

The wicket was mostly on the lower side".

"And sometimes it happens because this is what cricket is all about," he said.

"If you see in all the four matches that we have played, we have given our best on all four days of the game.

We would have loved to have that additional bonus point but it was one odd day," he said.

The players may have taken the chase lightly considering that it was just 12 runs and they wanted to finish up as early as possible, he added.

Notably, Manipur needed 12 runs to win in the second innings after Mizoram, who were dismissed for 143 runs in the first innings, added 268 runs in the follow-on to take an 11-run lead but Manipur lost 5 wickets in the process.

The Coach went on to say that the innings will serve as a learning experience for the players to stay focused in low-scoring games and hang in there until the last run is scored.

On the match against Meghalaya who are studded with some prolific players, he said that he is focussing on Manipur's strengths with special mention for the bowlers.

"Rather than focusing on the opposition, we are focusing on our strengths.

We have our game plan for the batters, we have our game plan for the bowlers, and all the players are executing their plans very well," he said.

"I think we have enough capable bowlers to take 20 wickets in a game," he added with confidence.

On being asked about possible changes in the team line up, he said that it was too early for the decision and it will be made tomorrow based on pitch conditions.

We've built good momentum and want to continue in the same vein: Captain Bishworjit

Ahead of the match tomorrow, Captain Bishworjit has said that the preparation has been really focused and positive.

"The boys are in a good space after the recent wins and the hard-fought draws have given us a lot of confidence and belief in our game," he said.

"We know that even a draw will take us to the finals, but our mindset is clear: we want to play for a win," he said.

"We've built good momentum over the last few matches, and the team wants to carry that same intent into tomorrow's game," he said.

"We respect Meghalaya, but we're backing our strengths and aiming to finish the league stage on a high," he continued.

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