Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Ayush Badoni replaces Himmat Singh as Delhi captain before Jharkhand clash

With Himmat struggling for form this season — he has 182 runs in six innings at 30.33 — the decision-makers have now entrusted Badoni with the task of reviving Delhi’s middling campaign.

Badoni scored 50 runs and took four wickets over two innings in Delhi’s previous Ranji Trophy match against Chandigarh. | Photo Credit: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar/The Hindu

Following a crushing defeat to Chandigarh in the fourth round of the Ranji Trophy, Delhi has removed Himmat Singh as captain. He has been replaced by Ayush Badoni, who scored 49 and 1 in the two innings and took four wickets at the GMSSS ground in Chandigarh.

Badoni’s first game as skipper will be against Jharkhand at the Arun Jaitley Stadium beginning on Wednesday.

With Himmat struggling for form this season — he has 182 runs in six innings at 30.33 — the decision-makers have now entrusted Badoni with the task of reviving Delhi’s middling campaign. It is currently fourth in Group D, with an insipid display against Chandigarh prompting further changes.

Yash Dhull has been named as the vice-captain in recognition of his impressive scores at the beginning of this season. In four matches, he has racked up two centuries and a fifty. Dhull was Delhi’s captain during the 2022-23 Ranji season but was removed after the team lost to Puducherry in the opening game of the 2023-24 campaign.

Hrithik Shokeen, Shivank Vashisht and Kshitiz Sharma have been dropped from the 18-member squad. Off-spinner Shokeen claimed just one scalp while left-arm spinner Vashisht went wicketless on a spin-friendly track in Chandigarh. Kshitiz contributed just 13 runs across the two innings.

Their spots in the squad have been taken up by Simarjeet Singh, Mayank Gusain and Shivam Sharma. While pacer Simarjeet returns after missing the last three matches with injury, Gusain is a batting all-rounder who has been doing well in the U-23 set-up.

Delhi squad:

Ayush Badoni (captain), Yash Dhull (vice-captain), Himmat Singh, Gagan Vats, Sanat Sangwan, Jonty Sidhu, Anuj Rawat, Sumit Mathur, Siddhant Sharma, Himanshu Chauhan, Money Grewal, Pranav Rajvanshi, Vaibhav Kandpal, Simarjeet Singh, Shivam Sharma, Aryan Rana, Mayank Gusain, Prince Choudhary.