Delhi’s top batsman Shorey switches to Vidarbha, Rana too mulls leaving

Delhi Ranji Trophy team suffered a big blow after its highest run-scorer from last year, Dhruv Shorey, signed up a professional contract with Vidarbha for the upcoming season and sought No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) on Friday.

Nitish Rana, who has represented India in an ODI and two T20 Internationals and has been a senior member of the Delhi has also sought NOC from DDCA as he wants to leave his home state.

A top office-bearer from the Delhi and District Cricket Association confirmed that Shorey and Rana have applied for NOC and will be leaving.

“Yes, they have applied for NOC. A decision to grant them NOC will be taken soon but most likely they will be allowed to go,” said Rajan Manchanda, the joint secretary of DDCA who added that they won’t stop them.

An official from the Vidarbha Cricket Association, a two-time champion in Ranji Trophy, confirmed that Shorey and former India Test batsman Karun Nair will be featuring for the side this season.

“Vidarbha is hiring both Nair and Shorey as professionals. They have already signed the contract,” he said.

As per the contract, a professional gets paid extra besides the regular match fees.

Rana too, it has been learnt, has a few options.

“He has offer from certain states, including southern, which he is mulling,” said a source close to him.

There was speculation that he would join Gujarat but the Gujarat Cricket Association denied that he will be joining the state team which has already hired Rajasthan leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi. There are also talks regarding him joining Baroda.

Shorey’s loss will be massive for Delhi as he scored 859 runs in seven matches last season at an average of 95.44 and was the fourth in the list of top run-getters for Delhi. Rana, however, was a failure as he could muster just 71 runs in three matches at a poor average of 17.75.

Rana is set to meet DDCA president Rohan Jaitley on Saturday to discuss the matter.

It has been learnt that both wanted guarantee to play white ball and red ball cricket. Shorey is considered to be a red ball expert and Rana a white ball expert.

“However, they both wanted guarantees to play both types of cricket which is very difficult to promise considering their specialisation,” said an official.