Ishant Sharma returns to Team Delhi in Ranji Trophy 2024 after a break

Veteran Indian pacer Ishant Sharma made a comeback to the field during Delhi’s fifth match of the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2023-24. Ishant Sharma was returned to the Delhi line-up for their home match against Baroda at the Palam Ground, starting on Friday, February 2.

Sharma represented Delhi against Puducherry in Delhi’s first match of the ongoing Ranji Trophy. However, the right-arm pacer failed to make an impact with the ball, securing only one wicket. The Delhi team suffered a nine-wicket loss in their opening match.

Ishant Sharma Rejoins Delhi Ranji Team For Clash vs Baroda

Ishant Sharma rejoined his state team after nearly a month-long hiatus. The 35-year-old pacer’s presence will significantly enhance Delhi’s bowling strength. The team, which is going through a rough patch, is currently placed sixth on the points table in Elite Group D.

The Delhi pacer’s last appearance for India was in 2021 during a Test against New Zealand at Green Park. He bagged 311 wickets from 105 Tests at an average of 32.41. Notably. he played a pivotal role in India’s red-ball success under Virat Kohli from 2018 to 2021.

Delhi Struggling In Ongoing Ranji Trophy Season

Delhi, currently facing a challenging phase in the competition, has secured only one victory in four matches, encountering two losses. Nonetheless, the recent triumph over Uttarakhand serves as a confidence booster ahead of the match against the group leaders

New skipper Himmat Singh’s remarkable 194-run innings, alongside contributions from Yash Dhull and Lakshay Thareja, showcased the batting prowess. Navdeep Saini, Hrithik Shokeen, and Himanshu Chauhan delivered with the ball in the recent Ranji Trophy match.

To make matters worse, Delhi faced internal issues, with Yash Dhull being removed as captain after the first match. Ayush Badoni was instructed to remain at the hotel in the last encounter. The decision was reportedly a disciplinary measure intended to impart a lesson.

Yash Dhull hasn’t achieved a half-century this season, despite strong team support. Badoni, Dhull, and Himmat may contemplate setbacks if they fail to perform in the remaining matches. The pressure is on the young players to avoid unraveling their promising careers.

The match was originally scheduled at Feroz Shah Kotla, but the venue changed due to preparations for the Women’s Premier League. Delhi faces a challenging path in the Ranji Trophy 2024, needing three outright wins to secure a spot in the quarterfinals of the event.

Meanwhile, the Baroda team tops Elite Group D with 20 points after four matches. Baroda won three matches and drew against Jammu and Kashmir in their last encounter. Madhya Pradesh is in second place in this group with 16 points to their name.

Delhi vs Baroda Playing XI

Delhi: Arpit Rana, Yash Dhull, Himmat Singh (c), Ayush Badoni, Lakshay Thareja (wk), Jonty Sidhu, Himanshu Chauhan, Hrithik Shokeen, Shivank Vashisht, Pranshu Vijayran, Ishant Sharma

Baroda: Jyotsnil Singh, Kinit Patel, Shashwat Rawat, Vishnu Solanki (c), Shivalik Sharma, Mitesh Patel (wk), Bhargav Bhatt, Soyeb Sopariya, Babashafi Pathan, Atit Sheth, Mahesh Pithiya

Also read: IND vs PAK: Ishant Sharma Picks Mohammed Siraj As Best Pacer In Current Indian Team