The Ranji Trophy season in 2022/23 has not started well for Delhi. After giving up the lead in the first inning, they lost to Maharashtra and then drew with Assam. Further setbacks occurred prior to their first home match of the season against Tamil Nadu. Their fast bowling group was plagued by an injury crisis, with Ishant Sharma, Navdeep Saini, and Simarjeet Singh all out, and senior batter Nitish Rana being dropped entirely.
The first day of the fight at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground also didn’t go as planned. Put into bat, Delhi reached 212/6 in 76 overs before the day’s play ended abruptly due to poor lighting. L Vignesh and Sandeep Warrier, both seamers for Tamil Nadu, picked up three wickets each.
The severe cold in the national capital was an additional obstacle for the Tamil Nadu players
who were accustomed to warm weather at home. For instance, even while bowling, Vignesh and India all-rounder Washington Sundar wore woollen caps. Later, Warrier stated that Vignesh had arrived in Delhi with an ear infection as a result of the cold.
Opener Dhruv Shorey was the primary giver for the hosts, incorporating a patient 66 off 168 balls to expand on his shining beginning to the season. The 30-year-old hit an unbeaten 252 in the first innings of Delhi’s previous match against Assam, followed by 150* in the second.
After Vignesh struck twice in the third over of the innings, Shorey was left to rebuild. The hesitant footwork of Anuj Rawat (3-5b) cost him, as he missed a full delivery to Vijay Shankar in the gully. Even though Delhi skipper Yash Dhull (0) didn’t seem at all convinced that he got a nick, he was given out caught behind off the fifth ball he faced.
Throughout the day, Vignesh stayed with a probing line and length
However, Delhi will be disappointed that they were unable to perform better on a surface where the ball did not do much. The short-ball tactic was also successfully utilised by the TN bowlers after lunch. With quick deliveries, Warrior defeated Jonty Sidhu (57-107b) and Vaibha Rawal (11).
On Day 1 of their match in Mumbai, Saurashtra were 289 all out, and Mumbai left-arm spinner Shams Mulani took 4/109. Arpit Vasavada, captain of Saurashtra, scored the most with 75. After openers Prithvi Shaw and Yashasvi Jaiswal were dropped early, Mumbai were 36/2 at stumps.
Himachal overlap for 49
Himachal Pradesh endured the worst part of Uttarakhand pacer Deepak Dhapola’s 8/35 as they were bowled out for only 49 in Dehradun. On Day 1, Uttarakhand led by 246 runs in the first innings and were 295/6 at stumps. Unbeaten were Aditya Tare (91 points) and Abhay Negi (48 points).
Short results (selected matches)
In Delhi, India: D Shorey 66, J Sidhu 57; Delhi 212/6 Against Tamil Nadu, L Vignesh 3/42, S Warrier 3/59; Mumbai, India 289 Saurashtra (75 A Vasavada; S. Mulani, 109th). S Yadav (18 batting) made Mumbai 36/2; Dehradun, India: 49 (D Dhapola 8/35) Himachal Pradesh 295/6 Uttarakhand (A Tare 91*); In Portuguese: Karnataka 294/3 (R Samarth 140) versus Goa.