Placed second behind leaders Karnataka, Baroda showed good form in their last match against Uttar Pradesh in Lucknow when a fit-again Irfan made a strong comeback to guide the team to a 10-wicket win.
It was the first win in four games for the Aditya Waghmode-led side, but it surprisingly climbed to the second spot in the highly competitive elite group that has teams like Mumbai, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu and the bottom-placed Bengal.
Yusuf, who has been struggling with his batting till now, came good with the ball after an inspirational show from younger brother and picked up six wickets to flatten the UP side on their home turf.
In the end Baroda earned a bonus point and certainly come into this four-day game as favourites against a struggling Railways unit.
Railways, led by wicketkeeper-batsman Mahesh Rawat, are yet to win a game, but have managed 9 points from the four matches.