New Delhi, Oct 10: An unprecedented 24-member squad has been named for Delhi’s opening Ranji Trophy match against Hyderabad, starting October 15, with Ayush Badoni set to lead the side and Yash Dhull appointed his deputy.
The Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) selection committee, which met on Thursday, recalled senior batter Nitish Rana – back in the Delhi fold after a brief stint with Uttar Pradesh – straightaway into the red-ball squad.“The selectors have named 24 because they felt that a larger pool is always available for selection during each game. However, when we play home games in Delhi, we will prune it down to 15,” DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma told PTI.On Rana’s return, Sharma said: “He is an experienced player and the selectors wanted to check him out. In any case, he will play the white-ball leg. In fact, in the next game, we are expecting Rishabh Pant to play.” However, a DDCA official said on condition of anonymity that Rana wasn’t fully fit for red-ball assignment.“Nitish Rana isn’t even fully fit for red-ball engagements and yet he has been drafted in,” said the official. (PTI)
