I shant boost for Delhi vs Kedarless Maharashtra
Released from India squad, pace spearhead is set to join up for the sixth round of Ranji Trophy; visitors will miss limitedovers allrounder
Delhi’s bid for a quarterfinal berth received a major boost after their regular captain Ishant Sharma was released by the Indian team management for the fifth round Ranji Trophy group A game against Maharashtra, starting at Palam on Friday.
For Maharashtra, their batting mainstay Kedar Jadhav is unavailable due to a wrist injury.
As per the policy of team management for the past few years, players who are not part of playing XI are sent back to play firstclass cricket to keep them match ready. “Ishant will be reaching Delhi by evening and he will be leading the side. Rishabh Pant will be his deputy. We have got confirmation,” Delhi team manager Shankar Saini told PTI.
Delhi, with 17 points from four games, are currently placed second in group A behind K ar nat aka and are well in contention to grab one of the top two spots in the group.
FAVOURITES
On paper, they are the runaway favourites against Maharashtra, who are on 10 points from four games and would need big outright wins to qualify, which looks improbable at the moment. With Ishant coming in, he will share the new ball with the depend able Navdeep Saini with Shivam Sharma and Mannan Sharma manning the slow bowling. Veteran G au tam Ga mb hi rh as been in good form with two centuries from four games, but Unmukt Chan d’ s poor run is bothering the home team.
Chand has failed to get going, save his 49 against UP, in a successful chase.
Dh ru vS ho rey has scored a few runs while Mil ind Kumar has not converted starts. Pant, who has been going through a bad patch, would also like to get going.
Maharashtra coach Sure nd ra Bhave informed that Kedar is currently in NCA for strength and conditioning. “We have our skipper Ankit Bawne, who has been a depend able longer format player. Rahul Tripathi had a great IPL and Rohit Motwani is coming at the back of a hundred in the last game. I am still confident we can qualify ,” B have said.
We have Ankit Bawne. Rahul Tripathi had a great IPL and Rohit Motwani is coming at the back of a hundred. I am still confident we can qualify SURENDRA BHAVE, Maharashtra coach on his side’s chances