Stand-in steals the show
SUPER SUB Pulled out of Delhi’s reserves to replace Virender Sehwag, Jagrit Anand scored a match-winning 61
NEW DELHI: At about half past seven, selectors got a text from Virender Sehwag that he is under the weather and will not be able to report for Delhi’s crucial Vijay Hazare Trophy one- dayer against Himachal Pradesh.
Left with little time to draft in a replacement, Delhi pulled in 24-year-old Jagrit Anand from the reserves and made him bat in the out-of-form experienced batsman’s spot.
The left- hander grabbed the opportunity, scripting a match- winning 61 as Delhi beat Himachal by five wickets to stay in contention for a knockout berth. With Delhi chasing 230, skipper Gautam Gambhir’s early dismissal, edging to the keeper trying a nudge, brought the youngster at the crease with Unmukt Chand.
While the usual No. 3 Sehwag had struggled to get runs in the first two games, there were no such worries on Monday as the second-wicket partnership yielded 79 in 18 overs. The youngsters kept their cool and showed maturity against an attack that lacked penetration. Unmukt made 51 and although there was a slight flutter after his dismissal as Mithun Manhas followed soon after, other youngsters Milind Kumar and Yogesh Nagar stepped up to take Delhi home.
Interestingly, apart from Sehwag, Delhi were without two other seniors, Rajat Bhatia and Sumit Narwal and Monday’s success probably brings into question whether Delhi need a bigger dose of youngsters. It also puts a question mark over Sehwag’s place although coach Sanjeev Sharma said: “He is going to play Wednesday’s game.” He, however, refused to divulge Viru’s batting position. “It will be decided on the day of the match.”
With Bhatia likely to return and youngsters doing a decent job, actually Sehwag may find it
tough to fit into the eleven. SWEET SIXTEEN?
While BCCI rules allow teams to keep a squad of 15, Delhi have been keeping 16 through these games. State selectors have denied any hand in that and blamed DDCA officials for that. And just as Sehwag pulled out, Delhi had a ready 16th in the form of Mohit Sharma available at Kotla.
Who called him up so early is still unknown, considering that Sehwag had pulled out at the last moment. DDCA president Sneh Bansal summoned coach Sharma, who reportedly blamed chief selector Chetan Chauhan. Chauhan denied that he had summoned the replacement.
It remained unknown till the end and Delhi’s five wicket win eventually drowned the topic.
BRIEF SCORES Himachal Pradesh 230 (B Sharma 57, V Sood 4/54) lost to Delhi 234 (J Anand 61, M Kumar 57*, U Chand 51) by 5 wickets; Pts: Delhi 4, Himachal Pradesh 0