Delhi's Ranji Trophy Campaign Ends with Silver Lining in Batting Talents
While Delhi's journey in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season concluded prematurely at the league stage, the team has unearthed two exceptional batting prospects in Ayush Doseja and Sanat Sangwan. Delhi finished without a single outright victory in seven matches, managing six draws, but the emergence of these young stars offers hope for the future.
Ayush Doseja's Heroic Century Against Mumbai
On Sunday, Ayush Doseja, who stepped in as captain at the last minute after Ayush Badoni joined India A, showcased his mettle with an unbeaten 159 runs from 230 deliveries. Resuming from his overnight score of 62, Doseja's innings included 11 fours and 2 sixes, guiding Delhi to 407 for six and securing a hard-fought draw against Mumbai at the MCA ground in BKC. This marked his fourth century of the season, a testament to his consistency and skill.
Record-Breaking Debut Season for Doseja
Doseja, a 23-year-old from Rohini, concluded his debut first-class season with an impressive 949 runs in seven matches, averaging 105.44. Had Delhi advanced in the tournament, he would have likely achieved the rare milestone of 1,000 runs in a debut season. His performances have made him the highest run-getter in India after the Ranji Trophy league stage, highlighting his rapid ascent in domestic cricket.
Learning from the Best: Sarfaraz Khan's Advice
After the match, Doseja and teammate Sanat Sangwan, who scored a century (118) in the first innings, sought guidance from Mumbai's in-form batter Sarfaraz Khan. Doseja shared that he asked Khan for tips on playing on red soil pitches, which are less common in Delhi where black soil is prevalent. Khan advised him to keep his head down while batting to avoid casual shots, especially given the extra bounce on red soil. Doseja acknowledged surviving three dropped catches during his innings, crediting Khan's insights for helping him adapt his game.
Doseja's Career Highlights and Kohli's Influence
Doseja has already notched significant achievements, including centuries in both innings against Chhattisgarh and a double century on his first-class debut against Hyderabad. However, he rates his match-saving century against Mumbai as the best of his young career. During the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Virat Kohli advised him to give "200%" in every match, a mantra Doseja continues to follow diligently.
Delhi's Shortcomings and Future Plans
Reflecting on Delhi's failure to qualify for the knockouts despite strong batting performances from him and Sangwan (828 runs at an average of 69.00), Doseja pointed to the team's bowling weaknesses. He emphasized the need for spinners capable of taking five-wicket hauls and improving overall bowling in red-ball cricket. Doseja stated, "We had this problem the whole season. We didn't have spinners who can take 10 opposition wickets." He believes addressing these issues could have secured victories based on first-innings leads.
Mumbai's Quarterfinal Prospects and Other Match Updates
Mumbai, topping Group D with 33 points, will welcome back captain Shardul Thakur from a calf injury for the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals starting February 6. In other news, Karnataka achieved a thrilling five-wicket victory over Punjab in Mohali, with captain Devdutt Padikkal scoring an unbeaten 120 off 85 balls to chase down 250 runs in just 27.5 overs.
Brief Scores:
- In Mumbai: Delhi 221 & 407/6d drew vs Mumbai 317.
- In Mohali: Punjab 309 & 256 lost to Karnataka 316 & 252/5 by 5 wickets.
