The 32-year-old opener had led Vidarbha to the most surprising of Ranji title victories in the just-concluded domestic season, beating favorites Delhi in the final. Vidarbha skipper Faiz Fazal, the second-highest run scorer in the tournament, showed the way with an inspiring display with the bat himself, amassing 912 runs at 70.15 in 9 matches, including 5 centuries and one fifty. In fact, his opening partner Ramaswamy Sanjay was next on the list with 775 runs while young pacer Rajneesh Gurbani was also second in the wicket-takers' chart with 39 wickets at 17.13.

Two of the national team's selectors, MSK Prasad and Sarandeep Singh, had attended the Irani Cup final between Vidarbha and the Rest of India, but Fazal found no need to have a word with them personally regarding his India chances. “I am not that types who will walk up to a selector and ask them about my selection. All I can do is to keep performing and hope for the best,” he said.

Fazal, who hit 89 runs against the Rest of India side, also reflected on Vidarbha's unexpectedly successful domestic campaign, which was rounded off by lifting the Irani Cup. “Winning the Irani is like icing on the cake. Ranji win was a very special one as we had to go through those leagues and then the knock-out phase. But the Irani Cup is the biggest match of the year with the Ranji winners pitted against the best players of the country. Beating them convincingly is a very special moment for us.”