Delhi batsmen's woes continue, team lose points to Baroda

Rarely have the Delhi Ranji Trophy team experienced such a cold winter, one that has sent shivers through the spines of their batsmen. So much so that after five matches, there has not been a single half-century.

Barring that buccaneering and adventurous 194 by skipper Himmat Singh in the fourth game against Uttarakhand that single-handedly helped Delhi register their first win of the season, no innings of note has come off a Delhi batsman’s bat. There are the likes of Ayush Badoni, Yash Dhull and Jonty Sidhu besides Himmat, but they all have floundered. These are the best batsmen in the Capital.

“I really cannot explain. These are the best batsmen in Delhi. I cannot say what has gone wrong,” said skipper Himmat after Delhi’s latest insipid show which came against Baroda at the Air Force Grounds in Palam.

Baroda made 435/9 declared against a Delhi attack that comprised veteran Test pacer Ishant Sharma (2/43). Right-handed opener Jyotsnil Singh hammered a double century. It probably hinted that the pitch was placid.

But once Delhi came into bat, the pitch began looking bowling-friendly. Badoni top-scored with 44 and Sidhu made 40. Yash Dhull, who suffered a bruise while fielding, came into bat at No. 9 instead of his usual opening slot and scored 17. Delhi were bowled out for 177 in 56.2 overs and made to follow on.

The Delhi team then played 34 overs on the fourth and final day to score 68/1 before the match was called off. Dhull, opening in the second essay, returned unbeaten on 39.  

Maybe, there hasn’t been enough red-ball cricket by the Delhi batsmen. Or maybe if there has been, they haven’t played the moving ball in the cold weather much for they haven’t been able to handle the movement.

Himmat had said after last week’s game against Uttarakhand that “almost all batsmen in North Zone have been struggling due to weather and difficult batting conditions”. But Jyotsnil’s double ton and his batsmen’s failure has left him nonplussed.

It also puts a serious question mark on coach Devang Gandhi’s ability to marshall the boys. Being a former India batsman, an opening one at that, as well as national selector, he looked all at sea. He started chiding the players, as per a report in the Times of India, for playing football. But then who knows what is happening inside the dressing room. That game of football was probably a release the players wanted. 

Whatever the case, one thing is for sure – Delhi now have only an outside chance to progress. They are seventh in Elite Group D out of eight teams with eight points in five games and have to win the remaining two matches and hope other results go their way. As of now, Baroda are sitting pretty on top with 23 points from five matches and Madhya Pradesh are second with 19 points from five matches.  

Tags : Cricket, Ranji Trophy, Delhi, Baroda,