The Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) recently held its selection committee meeting, and while the squad announcement is awaited, sources confirm that Rishabh Pant will not be the captain. Instead, Ayush Badoni has been retained as skipper. There is still uncertainty about whether Virat Kohli will be part of the squad. Delhi will play against Saurashtra in Rajkot from January 23.
Rishabh Pant’s Decision to Decline Captaincy
Rishabh Pant, who is set to play Ranji Trophy for the first time since 2018, was offered the captaincy but chose to decline. The Indian wicketkeeper-batsman, who has previously captained India against South Africa and has served as vice-captain, informed the DDCA selection committee, led by Gursharan Singh, that Badoni should continue as captain.
A source revealed, “Pant believed that stepping in as captain just because of his international experience and IPL leadership might disrupt the team’s balance. Instead, he expressed full confidence in Badoni and head coach Sarandeep Singh to lead the team successfully.”
Delhi is currently in joint second place in the Elite Group D of the Ranji Trophy with 19 points.
Role Reversal in IPL 2024
Interestingly, there will be a role reversal in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Pant is expected to lead Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), where Badoni is a retained player. However, the franchise has not yet officially announced its captain.
Virat Kohli’s Fitness Concerns
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Meanwhile, Virat Kohli is reportedly not fully fit. DDCA president Rohan Jaitley may speak with him about his participation, as the BCCI has mandated that international players must play domestic cricket when not on national duty or recovering from injury. Jaitley has not yet responded to inquiries regarding this matter.
Jadeja and KL Rahul’s Status Uncertain
There is also no official update on the participation of Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul in the upcoming Ranji Trophy matches. However, both are expected to feature in the next round of Ranji games.
With Pant opting out of captaincy and Kohli’s fitness under scrutiny, Delhi’s squad announcement remains a highly anticipated one. Stay tuned for further updates on team selections and player participation!
