Delhi selectors pick expanded squad for first two Ranji games

The senior selectors of Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) announced an unusually large 26-member squad for Delhi’s first two Ranji Trophy matches against Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir. The team will be led by Yash Dhull and Ayush Badoni will be his deputy.

Generally, the squad comprises 16 or 17 members but the selectors have made exception this time across all squads, calling up more than the usual number.

The men’s under-23 squad comprised 27 players while the under-16 team included 23 (two were added later to the original 21). The under-19 squad included 25 members.

“In the meeting, it was decided by the selectors that 26 players will be called for a few days at practice and the final 16 will be picked a day before the match after looking at their performance [at practice],” said Rajan Manchanda, the joint secretary of DDCA, to Patriot.

The first match, against Puducherry, will be played in Delhi at the Ferozeshah Kotla grounds of the Arun Jaitley Stadium while the second match will be played in Jammu.

There have, however, been talks within the association about selectors giving in to the demands of various factions and picking large squads to satisfy them. Delhi are favourites to win the first game.

Delhi squad for first two Ranji Trophy games: Yash Dhull (captain), Ayush Badoni (vice-captain), Arpit Rana, Vaibhav Sharma, Hiten Dalal, Gagan Vats, Himmat Singh, Kshitiz Sharma, Vaibhav Rawal, Jonty Sidhu, Anuj Rawat (wicket-keeper), Lakshay Thareja (wicket-keeper), Vaibhav Kandpal, Tishant Dabla, Hrithik Shokeen, Harsh Tyagi, Vikas Mishra, Prince Choudhary, Ishant Sharma, Navdeep Saini, Himanshu Chauhan, Kuldeep Yadav, Divij Mehra, Jitesh Singh, Shivam Tripathi and Salil Malhotra.