In a significant development ahead of the final Ranji Trophy league-stage encounter, Delhi captain Ayush Badoni and opening batsman Priyansh Arya have been released from the team's squad. This move comes just one day before Delhi's crucial clash against Mumbai at the Mumbai Cricket Association's BKC facility.
India A Call-Up Forces Last-Minute Changes
The duo has been summoned to join the India A squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup warm-up matches, creating an unexpected void in Delhi's lineup. India A is scheduled to face the USA in their first preparatory match at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on February 2, followed by a second encounter against Namibia at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on February 6.
Doseja Steps Up as Stand-In Captain
With Badoni's departure, the captaincy responsibilities have fallen upon Ayush Doseja, who is enjoying a remarkable debut season. Doseja currently stands as the highest run-getter in this Ranji Trophy season, amassing an impressive 790 runs across six matches at an average of 98.75.
His stellar performance includes three centuries, five half-centuries, and a career-best score of 209. This leadership opportunity arrives as Delhi has already been eliminated from knockout contention, having failed to secure a single outright victory this season with five draws and one loss.
Mumbai vs Delhi: A Clash Without Context
The traditional Delhi versus Mumbai rivalry in domestic cricket typically generates substantial excitement, but this particular fixture lacks both star power and competitive significance. Mumbai has already secured their quarterfinal berth in style, topping Elite Group D with 30 points from six matches that included four outright victories.
As group leaders, Mumbai will enjoy the advantage of playing all their knockout fixtures at home. Meanwhile, Delhi's disappointing campaign offers Mumbai an opportunity to settle an old score—they suffered an eight-wicket defeat against Delhi at the Arun Jaitley Stadium back in January 2023.
Sarfaraz Khan's Milestone Achievement
In related developments, Mumbai's Sarfaraz Khan recently reached the significant milestone of 5,000 First Class runs during his double century against Hyderabad. Reflecting on this achievement, Sarfaraz expressed his joy, stating, "I'm very happy to score 5,000 runs so early in my career. It's a special moment."
He added, "When I used to play at the Azad Maidan, I used to think that if I play in the Ranji Trophy, that would be a big achievement in life. Abbu used to tell me stories about Wasim Jaffer and Amol Muzumdar. It's not so easy to score so many runs, playing home and away, so consistently."
Tribute to Ajit Pawar
Both teams will observe a two-minute silence and wear black armbands during the match to honor the memory of deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who tragically passed away in an air crash on Wednesday.
