Delhi cricket should felicitate players bringing honours at national level

The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) deserves hearty congratulations for organising its prize distribution ceremony for local cricket as early as September 10. More than a formal function, it felt like a nostalgic return to the glorious traditions of Delhi cricket, when the achievements of cricketers were celebrated with the importance they deserved.

The function was electric, well attended and, importantly, wonderfully organised. Credit must go to the entire Apex Council and the DDCA staff for putting together an occasion that brought the Delhi cricket fraternity together.

There is also a larger reason to feel encouraged. Under Rohan Jaitley’s leadership, Delhi cricket appears to be rebuilding its competitive strength and, equally importantly, its talent pipeline.

A number of young cricketers have emerged in recent seasons and are making their presence felt in BCCI tournaments. The list is encouraging. Sweta Sehrawat, Tanisha Singh, Simran Dil Bahadur and Nidhi Mahto, who has represented India at Under-19 level, are among the young women cricketers attracting attention. On the men’s side, Aryavir Sehwag, Priyansh Arya and Prince Yadav are among those who have made their mark. There are several others waiting in the wings.

This resurgence makes it even more important that Delhi develops a tradition of celebrating excellence at every level — from local cricket to the national stage.

The September 10 ceremony rightly recognised local cricket’s heroes, who form the foundation on which the entire system rests. But there is a small gap that, hopefully, the DDCA will address.

Two of Delhi’s outstanding Ranji Trophy performers, Ayush Doseja and Sanat Sangwan, finished as the second and third-highest run-scorers for Delhi in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, yet could not be felicitated at the ceremony. Similarly, there are several other Delhi players — men and women — who have excelled as leading run-scorers, wicket-takers and all-rounders in various BCCI tournaments and deserve recognition. Many like the ones mentioned above have represented or been picked for various India teams.

These players should also have been felicitated.

Such felicitation wouldn' just complete the picture and honour the deserving but also inspire the next generation of Delhi cricketers.

Recognition matters in sport. A young player who sees a senior being honoured for his or her performances understands that excellence is noticed and valued. For those aspiring to play for India, such acknowledgement can be as meaningful as any trophy.

List of all the awards given during DDCA Prize Distribution Ceremony

DDCA League 2025-26

Elite-III: State Bank of India (winner), Kailash Nagar Colts (runner-up), DTC (3rd position): Best Batsman: Harsh Bhati (Kailash Nagar Colts; Best Bowler: Krish Kadyan (Kailash Nagar Colts)

Elite-II: Darling CC (winner), Rajinder Nagar Colts (runner-up), Rehman CC (3rd position): Best Batsman: Ankit Dabas (Darling CC); Best Bowler: Ankit Dabas (Darling CC)

Elite-I: Alpine CC (winner), Goswami Ganesh Dutt (runner-up), Pusa Youngsters CC (3rd position): Best Batsman: Vishal Sehwag (Goswami Ganesh Dutt); Best Bowler: Mohit Khatri (Alpine CC), Mayank Panchal (Alpine CC)

S Elite-III: Youngsters CC (winner), Mohan Meakins (runner-up), Three Star CC (3rd position): Best Batsman: Vansh Anand (Three Star CC); Best Bowler: Arvind Verma (Mohan Meakins)

S Elite-II: Central Secretariat (winner), Young Delhi Sports Club (runner-up), Delhi Administration (3rd position): Best Batsman: Parikshit Singh Bhati (Anand Sports); Best Bowler: Aman Kumar (Delhi Administration)

S Elite-I: Young Friends CC (winner), Tilak Nagar Colts (runner-up), Chand Khanna Club (3rd position): Best Batsman: Manjeet (Delhi Police); Best Bowler: Parnit Tiwari (Delhi Blues CC)

Premier-III: Indian Airforce SPB (winner), Essex Farm (runner-up), Collage Sports (3rd position): Best Batsman: Ankit Partap Singh (Collage Sports); Best Bowler: Rohan Parchanda (Essex Farms)

Premier-II: Pioneer CC (winner), Telefunken CC (runner-up), Golden Hawks CC (3rd position): Best Batsman: Ashwani Chhillar (Pioneer CC); Best Bowler: Kunal Shamra (Golden Hawks)

Premier-I: Yorks CC (winner), Madras CC (runner-up), Bank Of Baroda (3rd position): Best Batsman: Anmol Sharma (Madras CC); Best Bowler: Akshay Kapoor (Maulana Azad CC)

DDCA Hot Weather League 2025-26

Madras CC (winner), Golden Hawks CC (runners-up), Kashmeri Gate Colts (losing semi-finalist), Indian Air Force SPB (losing semi-finalist): Man of the Match in Final: Vaibhav Khandpal (Madras CC); Man of the Tournament: Shivam Sharma (Central Secretariat); Best Bowler: Arvind Verma (Mohan Meakins); Best Batsman: Shivam Bhandari (Radhey Shyam CC)

DDCA Men's T20 League 2025-26

Elite-III: S. B. Youth Club (winner), Citizen CC (runner-up), Three Star CC (3rd position): Best Batsman: Karn Kashyap (S. B. Youth Club); Best Bowler: Ajay Gulia (Times Of India)

Elite-II: Mata Ved Solanki CC (winner), Rehman CC (runner-up), Rajdhani CC (3rd position): Best Batsman: Nitin Rai (Mata Ved Solanki CC); Best Bowler: Ravindra Bhandari (State Bank of India)

Elite-I: Alpine CC (winner), Mishra Sports Club (runner-up), Century CC (3rd position): Best Batsman: Vishal Sehwag (Goshwami Ganesh Dutt); Best Bowler: Kabeer Sachdeva (Raghubir Willowers)

S Elite-III: Bright CC (winner), Mohan Meakins (runner-up), Darling CC (3rd position): Best Batsman: Harsh Bhati (Kailash Nagar Colts); Best Bowler: Arnav Gambhir (Kranti Star CC)

S Elite-II: Young Delhi Sports Club (winner), Ajmal Khan CC (runner-up), Rajinder Nagar Colts (3rd position): Best Batsman: Keshav Dabas (Young Delhi Sports Club); Best Bowler: Ansh Chaudhary (Paragon CC)

S Elite-I: Chand Khanna Club (winner), Rohtak Road Gym. (runner-up), Delhi Blues CC (3rd position): Best Batsman: Shresth Yadav (Rohtak Road Gym.); Best Bowler: Jatin Singhal (Delhi Cricket Club)

Premier-III: Collage Sports (winner), Kishan Ganj Gym. (runner-up), Essex Farm (3rd position): Best Batsman: Suryansh Raina (Essex Famrs); Best Bowler: Pankaj (Kishan Gnaj Gymkhana)

Premier-II: Golden Hawks CC (winner), N. K. Khanna CC (runner-up), Telefunken CC (3rd position): Best Batsman: Aryan Rana (Super Star CC); Best Bowler: Suryakant (N. K. Khanna CC)

Premier-I: Madras CC (winner), Prof. Management CC (runner-up), R. P. C. A. (3rd position): Best Batsman: Vishant Bhati (Gemini CC); Best Bowler: Shivank Vashist (Prof. Management)

T20 Women’s League 2025-26

Group A: R. P. C. A. (winner), L. B. Shastri Coaching Centre (runners-up) Group B: Essex Farm (winner), City Gymkhana (runners-up)

Group C: Young Cricketers CC (winner), Golden Hawks CC (runners-up)

Group D: Madras CC (winner), Young Delhi Sports Club (runners-up)

Group E: Prof. Management CC (winner), Goswami Ganesh Dutt (runners-up)

Group F: Rohtak Road Gym. (winner), Chand Khanna Club (runners-up)

Group G: Radhey Shyam CC (winner), Sarojini Nagar Gym. (runners-up)

Group H: Kashmeri Gate Colts (winner), N. K. Khanna CC (runners-up)

Group I: United India CC (winner), Paragon CC (runners-up)

Group J: Yorks CC (winner), Tilak Nagar Colts (runners-up).

Tags : Delhi, Cricket, Rohan Jaitley, Ayush Doseja, Sanat Sangwan, Aryavir Sehwag, Priyansh Arya, Prince Yadav, Sweta Sehrawat, Tanisha Singh, Simran Dil Bahadur, Nidhi Mahto