Another forgettable year for Delhi cricket passes by

Nothing seems to have changed for Delhi from last year, as its men’s and women’s teams continue to struggle in national cricket tournaments. So far, Delhi have reached just one final in the 2025–26 season — the women’s elite under-23 T20 Trophy — but a title continues to elude them. Last season, Delhi managed to win a solitary title: the women’s under-23 T20 Trophy.

The Tanisha Singh-led Delhi under-23 team did well to enter the final, but Haryana proved too strong on the day, winning by six wickets. Delhi failed to take advantage of batting first after winning the toss, and the Haryana bowlers, led by Jyoti Yadav’s three-wicket haul, restricted them to 154 for seven in 20 overs, with Shivi Sharma scoring the lone half-century (56). The top four Haryana batters then overhauled the total to clinch the title.

Delhi batter Tanisha was the joint top scorer of the tournament along with Sujata Dey of Bengal, with both aggregating 290 runs at an identical average of 58. Pacer Deeksha and left-arm spinner Bharti Rawal captured 10 wickets each in eight matches.

More disappointments

In just one more tournament, the women’s elite Senior T20 Trophy, Delhi performed well to progress to the second round. Their journey ended there, though it must be said that the team was a bit unlucky, as one of its matches was washed out in the four-team Super League.

In the Ranji Trophy, Delhi have again disappointed hugely, with the team on the verge of crashing out as the tournament pauses to accommodate the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy. For the latter, Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant — who has been appointed captain — return in a bid to revive Delhi’s fortunes.

Hope floats

Delhi are still alive in the women’s under-19 One-day Trophy. Purva Siwach’s team finished second in Group E and qualified for the pre-quarterfinals, where they will play Madhya Pradesh on December 25 in Pune. Delhi played consistent cricket in their pool, winning four of their five matches and losing one.

Also Read: Delhi: Finding the silver lining in a year of transition

Currently, Nidhi Mahto, a 17-year-old dynamo, is Delhi’s top run scorer with 264 runs (average 66, strike rate 131.34) in four innings. She also smashed a crucial century — a superb 173 off just 104 balls (17 fours, 10 sixes) — against Rajasthan when the team was struggling at 55 for three. Coming in at No. 5, she first stitched a 227-run partnership with Samaira Raghav (76) for the fifth wicket to power Delhi to 378 for seven in 50 overs. In reply, Rajasthan were bundled out for 209 in 42.5 overs. Delhi collected four points with the 169-run win, which helped them qualify.

“The pitch was good for batting. The ball swung at the start, but it didn’t do much later. After we lost three quick wickets, our chief coach, Khyati Gulani madam, told me to play like an anchor and bat for a long innings. Accordingly, I mostly took singles at the start, but after crossing my century, I started hitting big shots. But I’m still not satisfied — I have to make up for the matches in which I didn’t score much,” Nidhi told Patriot.

Forgettable outings

In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Delhi failed to progress beyond the initial league stage. In the men’s elite under-23 CK Nayudu Trophy, Delhi are presently languishing at the bottom of the eight-team Group C and are almost out of the reckoning, with four more matches to play. In the men’s under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy and under-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy, the story is no different.