In a fresh wave of controversy hitting Delhi’s cricketing circles, the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) is reportedly set to unveil a remarkably large 25-member squad for the upcoming Ranji Trophy. This announcement comes amidst a backdrop of organizational turmoil and questionable decisions.
Delhi is slated to kick off its Ranji Trophy 2025-26 campaign with an away match against Hyderabad on October 15, followed by their first home game at the Arun Jaitely Stadium against Himachal Pradesh on October 25.
During a senior selection committee meeting held on Thursday, Ayush Badoni was named captain, with Yash Dhull appointed as his deputy for the initial two fixtures. Rishabh Pant is also included and is expected to take over captaincy once cleared by the BCCI medical team. Intriguingly, the selection panel, comprising Yashpal Singh, KP Bhaskar, and Manu Nayyar, has opted for an unprecedented four wicketkeepers in the squad.
Sources indicate that the squad selection was a hastily conducted affair, with the pool of prospective players not even undergoing proper practice matches or match simulations. Instead, selections were made solely based on regular net sessions. The primary reason for this lack of proper trials was the DDCA’s significant delay in finalizing the support staff for the season.
After considerable internal deliberations and infighting among current and former office bearers, a large list of support staff was eventually released on September 27. This was just weeks before the senior squads were due and days before the U-19 men’s and T20 women’s teams were to be selected.
Questions have been raised regarding several appointments, notably that of Kshitiz Sharma as the Ranji Trophy batting coach. Sharma, who played for Delhi until last year, has a limited domestic record and was chosen over more experienced candidates like former India A cricketer Robin Bisht, who was relegated to a role with the U-19 team. Similar issues plagued the U-19 team selection, requiring intervention from senior officials to restore order before the team’s departure.
The most surprising inclusion in the Badoni-led Ranji Trophy squad is Nitish Rana, who has returned to Delhi this year. Prior to his move to Uttar Pradesh, Rana was not considered for red-ball cricket by the then Delhi selectors, and his professional stint in UP for the format also proved largely unsuccessful. When pressed on Rana’s selection, DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma justified it by stating Rana’s performance in the state’s T20 league, the DPL. This raises concerns, as it could mark a rare instance where a selection for four-day cricket was primarily influenced by a T20 tournament.
Sharma, addressing concerns about the oversized squad, clarified that the additional players were merely backups, but confirmed their travel with the team. According to BCCI guidelines, only 15 players are allowed on the ground during match days, with the remainder typically staying at the team hotel. However, the DDCA has a long-standing practice of selecting large squads, with a substantial contingent often traveling even for single away games, incurring significant expenses for daily allowances for all players.
Delhi’s performance in the domestic circuit has been underwhelming for several years. The team selection process remains disorganized, and ongoing internal conflicts consistently overshadow cricketing priorities. Despite a strongly worded email from President Rohan Jaitley in 2023 highlighting these issues, little has changed within the cricket body.
This year’s initial selection meeting was particularly contentious, with one faction of office bearers demanding Secretary Sharma’s exclusion. After multiple emails and delays, Sharma continued to attend subsequent meetings, including the one where the Ranji squad was picked today, alongside joint secretary Amit Grover.
The DDCA is expected to officially release the squad soon, with potential for last-minute adjustments amid the prevailing discontent.