Cricket: As the 2024-25 domestic cricket season draws to a close next month, an assessment of Delhi’s men’s and women’s teams over the last decade presents a bleak picture. Between 2015-16 and 2024-25, Delhi competed in 102 tournaments across both categories but managed to win just four titles—two each for the men’s and women’s teams.
The 2017-18 season was Delhi’s best, with two crowns— the men’s T20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the men’s under-23 Col CK Nayudu Trophy. The remaining two title triumphs came in 2016-17 (Senior Women’s T20 League) and 2024 25 (Women’s Under-23 T20 Trophy). This means that across 10 domestic seasons, Delhi failed to win a single title in seven, underscoring its underwhelming performance.
Delhi’s struggles become even more apparent when compared to states with fewer financial and infrastructural resources than the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA). If the perennially controversial DDCA had used its funds and facilities judiciously and transparently, the results might have been better. However, that is just one aspect of a long list of reasons behind Delhi’s decline.
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Mumbai shows the way
To put Delhi’s poor performance into perspective, one must look at Mumbai’s stellar record. Mumbai has won 17 titles in the same 10-year period. The 2023-24 season alone saw Mumbai teams dominate, winning four titles — the Ranji Trophy, men’s elite under-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy, Senior Women’s T20 Trophy, and Women’s Under-19 T20 Trophy. Additionally, Mumbai finished as runners-up in two tournaments (men’s under-19 Vinoo Mankad Trophy and men’s elite under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy) and reached the semi-finals in two others (men’s elite under-23 CK Nayudu Trophy and women’s under-15 One-Day Trophy).
This remarkable success earned the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) the BCCI’s Best Performing Association award for the 2023-24 season. The only anomaly was in 2018 19 when Mumbai failed to win a single title.
In contrast, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat teams not traditionally known for dominance—and Tamil Nadu have all outperformed Delhi, winning five titles each in the same period. While Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat may have larger geographical areas, their cricketing resources are limited but much better organised compared to the DDCA. Tamil Nadu, however, benefits from a well-organised cricketing structure.
Meanwhile, top performers in the much-ignored DDCA League, supposedly a talent hunting competition but badly neglected, are frequently overlooked, with non-cricketing factors influencing team selection. Unlike the MCA, which selects Mumbai teams from its various systematically organised club-based tournaments, the DDCA picks teams on the basis of individual trials/trial matches, a method that is unwieldy and in which genuine talent often gets ignored/omitted.
Vidarbha has been the second-most successful association after Mumbai, securing nine titles across men’s and women’s categories in the last decade. Railways, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Punjab have won eight titles each, while Haryana has secured seven, and Bengal six. Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat have five. Uttarakhand, a relatively new association, has managed to win two trophies in just seven years of its existence despite multiple challenges.
DDCA lags behind
Former India all-rounder Madan Lal, who captained Delhi to Ranji Trophy titles in 1985-86 and 1988-89, believes that the DDCA’s failure to evolve with changing times is its biggest weakness.
“The biggest reason is that we have not updated ourselves on several fronts — coaching, selection, and organising cricket properly. It is not so much about technology, as it is the players who have to perform and win. Another major issue is not giving opportunities to the right players. Some have been around for years but have never been match-winners. They just keep playing; I don’t know how. They have not been made to realise that they are representing Delhi and need to win matches,” the 73-year-old told Patriot.
“Whoever is in management is responsible. Other state associations have upgraded themselves. Delhi must understand that it is a cricket association. I am not bothered about the association’s other achievements, like staging international matches etc. I am only concerned with Delhi’s performance, and it has been virtually non-existent over the last 10 years,” he added.
Despite multiple changes in DDCA’s management over the last decade, no significant improvement has been seen. The story remains the same.
Poor Ranji show
Delhi has now failed to qualify for the knockout stage of the Ranji Trophy for six consecutive seasons. Having reached its first Ranji final in 1976-77, Delhi has since played in 15 finals and won seven titles. The team’s fortunes changed when the legendary Bishan Singh Bedi moved from Punjab to Delhi, instilling a fighting spirit that made them a formidable side. Madan Lal later took over and led the team to two championships.
Mumbai, by contrast, has reached the Ranji Trophy final a staggering 48 times, winning the title on 42 occasions since the tournament’s inception in 1934-35.
Former India opener Wasim Jaffer, who captained Mumbai to Ranji titles in 2008-09 and 2009-10, later helped Vidarbha secure two championships as a guest player. He attributes Mumbai’s dominance to several factors.
“These include a rich cricketing history, the competitive nature of its internal tournaments, the players’ ability to stage comebacks from tough situations in matches, the availability of quality grounds, and the presence of stalwarts in the dressing room to inspire young players. Mumbai has a knack for winning titles, something that many other state associations lack,” Jaffer told Patriot.
On Delhi’s struggles, Jaffer gave his honest assessment as an outsider who frequently played against them. “Delhi has always underperformed. As an outsider, I always found it surprising. Probably a lack of hunger and desperation to win, coupled with unfair selection, are among the key reasons for Delhi’s poor showing,” he observed.
Speaking about his four-year stint with Vidarbha, Jaffer highlighted that the Vidarbha Cricket Association had a clear vision that filtered down to the players, helping them perform consistently.
Current MCA president Ajinkya Naik lists the reasons for Mumbai’s success. “Our biggest strength is our maidan cricket. Our club structure and club secretaries, who run the show, are another big reason for Mumbai’s continued success. Also, our tournament calendar is chalked out in coordination with that of the BCCI. For example, if the BCCI schedules a T20 tournament, Mumbai will have its T20 tournament just before that,” Naik told Patriot. In Delhi, there are no such tournaments, as teams are picked on the basis of trials.
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DDCA management responsible
Madan Lal insists that players must take pride in representing Delhi, but it is ultimately the DDCA’s responsibility to instil that mindset.
“The management organises everything. They must ensure that players understand they are representing Delhi—that’s the only way to win. The association is bigger than any individual, including the players. If someone is not performing, they should make way for others,” he emphasised.
Interestingly, the two titles Delhi won in 2017-18 came when Madan Lal was part of a specially constituted committee under the leadership of retired Supreme Court Justice Vikramajit Sen.
“The key changes I made were making players, coaches, and others involved in the game realise their responsibilities and trusting them. The two titles that Delhi won in 2017-18 were a result of that. Once you entrust people with responsibility, it becomes their job to deliver. Players and staff are professionals, and if they do not perform, they must make way for others,” he said.
The former all-rounder also pointed out that some individuals associated with DDCA seem more focused on personal financial gain than improving Delhi cricket.
“Some people come, make money, and leave. Their priority appears to be earning Rs 30-40 lakh a year, then moving on. That’s a big amount for them, but they don’t have any pride in representing Delhi. Earning money is fine, but they must also take pride in what they do. This can only happen if things are well-organised and responsibilities are clearly defined,” he remarked.
Madan Lal acknowledged that other states have surpassed Delhi because of better management and structure.
“Mumbai’s system is superior. Even Vidarbha, Bengal, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu have done well because they have structured things properly. Their processes are merit-based— from player selection to coaching appointments— making it easier to produce results,” he concluded.
