Domestic giants Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) have decided to overcome last season’s disappointment in the Ranji Trophy and other tournaments by improving players’ physical standards. Fulfilling the fitness criteria will be the utmost priority, according to the association.  

“Ahead of the upcoming domestic season, our main focus will be on improving players’ fitness. We lost a few championships in different age groups like U-16, U-19 and U-23 etc. due to poor fielding and lacking physicality last season. So, our CIC [Cricket Improvement Committee] President Raju Kulkarni and his committee members have decided that the players and support staff should concentrate on every individual’s fitness,” Hadap told Sunday mid-day on Friday.

Mumbai emerged champions in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, but were knocked out in the league stage of the Vijay Hazare Trophy [50-over tournament] last season. The 42-time Ranji Trophy champions lost to eventual champions Vidarbha in the semi-final last season.