Cricket

Delhi's Ranji Trophy campaign has hit a roadblock, prompting a leadership change. Himmat Singh, who captained the team in the first four rounds, has been replaced by Ayush Badoni. The decision comes after a crushing defeat to Chandigarh, which exposed Delhi's batting frailties.Badoni, who scored 49 and 1 in the two innings against Chandigarh, will lead the team in their next match against Jharkhand. The 23-year-old has been in impressive form this season, scoring two centuries and a fifty in four matches.Yash Dhull, who was the Delhi skipper during the 2022-23 Ranji season, has been named as the vice-captain. Dhull, who is also a talented batsman, has scored two centuries and a fifty this season.The changes in the Delhi squad reflect the team's struggles in the Ranji Trophy. Delhi is currently fourth in Group D, with just one win from four matches. The team's batting has been particularly disappointing, with only Dhull and Badoni showing any consistency.The selectors have made several changes to the squad in an attempt to address the team's weaknesses. Hrithik Shokeen, Shivank Vashisth, and Kshitiz Sharma have been dropped, while Simarjeet Singh, Mayank Gusain, and Shivam Sharma have been included.Simarjeet, a pacer, returns to the squad 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. Shivam is a left-arm spinner who has been in good form for Delhi's second XI.Delhi will be hoping that the changes in the squad will help them turn their season around. The team has a tough task ahead of them, but they will be confident of making a strong comeback under the leadership of Badoni.

Delhi's Ranji Trophy campaign has hit a roadblock after a disappointing draw against Tamil Nadu in the second round. Despite Yash Dhull's unbeaten century in the first innings and Sanat Sangwan's valiant 83 in the second, Delhi's batters struggled to make a mark.The home side will need to raise their game significantly when they face Assam at the Arun Jaitley Stadium from Saturday. Assam, too, has managed only one point from its first two rounds against Jharkhand and Chandigarh, making this a crucial opportunity for Delhi to secure full points and improve its standing in Group D.Delhi currently has four points, having taken the first-innings lead in the draw against Chhattisgarh before narrowly avoiding defeat against Tamil Nadu. Navdeep Saini is unavailable for this fixture due to his inclusion in the India-A squad for the upcoming tour of Australia.In Saini's absence, Delhi will welcome the return of pacer Harshit Rana, who was traveling as a reserve with the Indian team in the ongoing Test series against New Zealand before being released for this Ranji game. Rana has yet to play for Delhi this season.For Assam, Riyan Parag remains unavailable. The hard-hitting middle-order batter is currently at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, with his next assignment likely to be India's four-match T20I series against South Africa starting on November 8."We are not looking at it as a setback," said Assam captain Denish Das of Parag's absence. "It is a chance for someone else to grab his opportunity. Yes, there will obviously be a gap because he is Assam's best player, but there is an opportunity for a different player."

Yash Dhull, the former India U-19 World Cup-winning captain, has faced a significant challenge off the field this year. During a routine medical checkup at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), a hole in his heart was detected. This congenital condition required Dhull to undergo minor heart surgery.Despite the setback, Dhull has shown remarkable resilience. His recent unbeaten century for Delhi in the second-round Ranji Trophy clash against Tamil Nadu marks a "new innings" in his career. This century is his first in First-Class cricket since his recovery."This was a very important innings for me because this is after a surgery. When you come back to playing on such a platform and start a new innings, this (century) is good motivation and a positive sign," Dhull said. "This condition was there from the start. Normally the surgery happens after birth. Mine has happened very late. That we got to know was very important. Because after the age of 35, this would have harmed. Being back on the field makes me very happy."Dhull's recovery is a testament to his determination and the support he has received from his family, friends, and the medical team. He is now focused on regaining his form and contributing to Delhi's success in the Ranji Trophy.Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu pacer Gurjapneet Singh continued his impressive performance in the Ranji Trophy. He backed up his six-wicket haul on debut with another commendable shift, contributing two wickets in 23 disciplined overs."We were just executing our plan of being consistent on a length. All the bowlers did that, which is why our economy rates were good and we curtailed Delhi's scoring," he said.The match between Delhi and Tamil Nadu is poised for an exciting finish, with both teams looking to secure a victory.

Delhi's Yash Dhull, battling cramps and dirt-stained flannels, fought valiantly on day three of the Ranji Trophy clash against Tamil Nadu. With minutes remaining before the close of play, Dhull launched a six off Tamil Nadu seamer M. Mohammed, notching up his sixth First Class century.Dhull's unbeaten 103 took Delhi to 264 for 8 at stumps, but the home side still faces a daunting deficit of 410 runs against Tamil Nadu's mammoth 674 for six declared. Top-order batter Dhruv Kaushik is unlikely to bat after suffering a blow to his right thumb while fielding, leaving Dhull and Pranshu Vijayran, who is also nursing a side strain, as Delhi's last batting pair.Tamil Nadu's bowlers flexed their muscle on day three, with Gurjapneet Singh, M. Mohammed, and Washington Sundar claiming two wickets apiece. Sonu Yadav and S. Ajith Ram also contributed with one scalp each. The bowlers inflicted most of the damage during the opening session.Despite Gurjapneet's probing lengths, openers Sanat Sangwan and Harsh Tyagi managed to negotiate the first hour of play. However, Washington's off-spin yielded the opening breakthrough, leading to a cluster of wickets as Delhi slumped from 74 for one to 103 for five at the lunch interval.Dhull and Pranav Rajvanshi showed resilience, adding 75 runs for the sixth wicket in a wicketless second session. But in the very first over after tea, Rajvanshi was snaffled by Andre Siddarth at short leg off Washington, leaving Delhi's hopes of a fightback entirely on Dhull's shoulders.

Yash Dhull, the former captain of India's U-19 team, is making a cautious return to the field after undergoing heart surgery earlier this year. The 21-year-old cricketer had a congenital heart condition that required surgical intervention, which was promptly addressed after being discovered during a routine check-up at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.During the NCA check-up, the medical team detected a congenital condition - a hole in Dhull's heart. The NCA's medical team advised immediate surgery, which Dhull underwent in Delhi. According to a News18 report, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ensured he received the best possible care and monitored his recovery closely."During the NCA check-up, the team, after consulting with a set of doctors, advised him to undergo surgery for the hole in his heart," said Pradeep Kochar, Dhull's childhood coach. "He was attending a camp with the rest of the emerging players a couple of months back in Bengaluru. The surgery went well, and Yash has been on a steady path to recovery."Dhull's father, Vijay, explained that the condition was congenital and the surgery was necessary for his son's long-term health and cricket career. "It wasn’t anything serious. The hole in the heart was a condition from birth, and the NCA team advised a minor surgical procedure. He underwent that in Delhi, and the BCCI continued to keep a check on him during the period," said Vijay.Since receiving a fitness certificate from the NCA, Dhull has been gradually rejoining competitive cricket. He has been playing in the Delhi Premier League (DPL), but his performances have been subdued, reflecting his ongoing recovery process."Certain things have happened in the past, and I have returned after a recovery. It’s taking time, but I am positive and will give 100 percent for my game," Dhull said after a recent DPL match.Despite the slow start, Dhull's determination has impressed both his coaches and teammates. "The NCA has given him the certificate of fitness, so there shouldn’t be an issue in any of the formats going forward. Even going forward, there shouldn’t be any problem for him to play the Ranji Trophy and the longer formats," Kochar asserted, expressing confidence in Dhull's ability to bounce back fully.Dhull's journey back to the cricket field after heart surgery has highlighted his courage and dedication. As he continues to work on his fitness and form, the cricketing fraternity remains hopeful that he will soon return to his best, fulfilling the immense potential he has shown at a young age.