Delhi cricket grapples with poor form, planning gaps

Delhi’s performance in domestic tournaments this season has again been subdued, with the team yet to find consistency across formats. In the flagship Ranji Trophy, the national men’s championship, Delhi has struggled to build momentum, and for the sixth straight year, faces the possibility of missing the quarterfinals.

After four matches, Delhi was yet to register a win, having lost one and drawn three. It stood sixth in the eight-team Group D. At the end of the round-robin league, only the top two teams from each of the four groups advance to the next round.

Fear of early ouster

Going by the way it has begun the fifth match — an away fixture against Rajasthan in Rajsamand — Delhi is unlikely to progress to the next round.

Delhi won the toss but then completely lost the plot. Asked to bat first, four Rajasthan batsmen smashed centuries — a first in a long time — to pile up 570 for seven before declaring the first innings. The centurions, including the No 7 and No 8 batters, exposed Delhi’s limited bowling resources. In reply, Delhi was all out for 296, conceding a crucial lead of 274 runs and were forced to follow on.

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Delhi’s showing in domestic tournaments this season has been subdued poor, with the team yet to find consistency across formats. In the flagship Ranji Trophy, the national men’s championship, Delhi has struggled to build momentum, and for the sixth straight year, faces the possibility of missing the quarterfinals.

Slow start

After four matches, Delhi was yet to register a win, having lost one and drawn three. It stood sixth in the eight-team Group D. At the end of the round-robin league, only the top two teams from each of the four groups advance to the next round.

Going by the way it has begun the fifth match — an away fixture against Rajasthan in Rajsamand — Delhi is unlikely to make the cut.

Delhi won the toss but then completely lost the plot. Asked to bat first, four Rajasthan batsmen smashed centuries — a first in a long time — to pile up 570 for seven before declaring the first innings. The centurions included the No. 7 and No. 8 batters, exposing Delhi’s limited bowling resources at the little-known Madan Paliwal Miraj Sports Centre.

Tactical concerns

“Bowling changes by Delhi in Rajasthan’s first innings were unimaginative and left a lot to be desired. Captain Yash Dhull, or maybe it was coach Sarandeep Singh, introduced certain bowlers into the attack very late. In contrast, some others were over-bowled,” said an observer after Rajasthan’s innings, which lasted for almost two days of the four-day match.

Delhi used as many as seven bowlers. Pacer Siddhant Sharma sent down 30 overs for one wicket while opening batsman–cum–off-spinner Arpit Rana bowled 29 overs for none. In-form pacer Simarjeet Singh bagged three wickets in 26 overs.

For this away match, Delhi made four changes to the playing XI that suffered a shock defeat to Jammu and Kashmir in the previous home game at Feroz Shah Kotla. Notably, Delhi has already used 19 players in four matches — a high churn by any standard — indicating that the coach, captain and selectors have little trust in some players.

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

While Delhi struggles in the Ranji Trophy, it is yet to start preparation for the men’s T20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), which begins on November 26 in Ahmedabad. Several players from the Ranji squad are expected to be picked for SMAT. However, with little time left, no date has been set to select the squad.

One of the senior selectors is currently in the United States, officiating as a referee in a private T20 league — in defiance of the DDCA’s written warning of “appropriate action” against those who ignore its directives. The association has also not named the chairman of the selection committee.

Under-23 struggles

Meanwhile, in the men’s Under-23 CK Nayudu Trophy, Delhi was placed eighth and last in Group C after the first three matches, having lost one and drawn the other two. After a break, when the tournament resumes in January, Delhi will be looking for its first win.