Rishabh Pant is expected to be named the captain of Delhi for their upcoming Ranji Trophy match against Saurashtra, which is set to begin on January 23 in Rajkot. However, there remains uncertainty regarding the participation of Virat Kohli. According to a Times of India report, the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) is scheduled to hold a selection meeting soon to finalize the squad for the match.
A senior DDCA official confirmed, “A selection meeting will happen tomorrow afternoon, and it’s likely that Rishabh Pant will be the skipper for the away game against Saurashtra.” Both Pant and Kohli were named among the probables for Delhi’s remaining Ranji fixtures, but their actual participation remains unclear.
Pant, who last played a Ranji Trophy match in the 2017-2018 season, has confirmed his availability and will join the squad directly in Rajkot. On the other hand, Kohli’s inclusion in the team is still uncertain, with the 34-year-old last featuring in the competition for Delhi in 2012.
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DDCA Secretary Ashok Sharma stated, “Pant has confirmed his availability, but we haven’t heard from Virat Kohli. We want him to play, but we’re still waiting for a response. Harshit Rana, selected for the T20 squad, will be unavailable.”
🚨 RISHABH PANT AS CAPTAIN OF DELHI 🚨
– Rishabh Pant is likely to lead Delhi team in the next match against Saurashtra in this Ranji Trophy. (Sahil Malhotra/TOI). pic.twitter.com/hPhGl6EjAc
— Ramjivishal Dixit (@Vdcricinfo) January 16, 2025
There have been calls from former cricket legends like Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri for key players like Kohli and Rohit Sharma to play red-ball cricket to regain their form. Rohit’s recent training with the Mumbai team has sparked interest, but it remains to be seen whether he will be available for the upcoming Ranji Trophy matches.
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As is customary, the DDCA has named a list of 38 probables for the remaining two games, with the final squad depending on player availability. Delhi’s next match will see them face Saurashtra in Rajkot on January 23, where Pant will likely take charge, but the team’s performance may depend on whether Kohli makes a return to the squad.
