The last season’s Ranji Trophy runner-up Delhi is now in a tricky situation in the ongoing 2018/19 Ranji Trophy and it has suddenly brought out an opportunity for the opener Gautam Gambhir who was recently in retirement rumour from cricket.
The most recent 10-wicket home defeat against Punjab means Delhi has to play their most of remaining Group B games as virtual knockout games where they can’t afford another defeat. The situation is evolving tougher for Delhi after the skipper Nitish Rana and Himmat Singh are going to miss in the next two matches. At present, Delhi is at the seventh position in the points table of Group B with just four points at the end of three matches.
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According to TOI, a Delhi and District Association (DDCA) source claimed that Gambhir has stepped down from Delhi captaincy due to he was wishing to feature only home matches and he was not ready to travel with the team.
Gambhir’s retirement rumour from cricket was on fire after he missed the away game against Hyderabad, the previous game of Punjab, and took the commentary role in the three-match T20I series between the hosts Australia and the visitors India.
However, Gambhir returned to the Delhi squad for the home game against Punjab and washed out the immediate retirement rumours. While Delhi lost this game by 10 wickets, Gambhir was the only home batsman to play a 50+ knock as he scored 60 runs during his team’s second innings.
Now, Delhi will have to face the lower-positioned team Andhra on their home ground in next week (December 6-9) and it is going to be a critical game for them. While Delhi can’t afford another defeat, Nitish Rana and Himmat Singh are going to miss the next two games due to their involvement in the 2018 ACC Emerging Teams Cup for India U23.
The next few days are going to be very crucial for Delhi cricket as everyone now has to be sitting down and need to set up the proper squad. Especially after his second innings batting against Punjab, Gambhir seems to stay with the squad. But the big question is, will he travel with the squad for further rounds (away games) in this season? We have to wait a few more days to get the real answer.
