Ranji Trophy 2024: Yash Dhull Sacked As Delhi Captain After Heavy Defeat To Puducherry, Himmat Singh To Replace Him: Reports

Yash Dhull has been sacked as Delhi captain after a heavy defeat to Puducherry in the Ranji Trophy 2024. Reports in ESPN Cricinfo say that Himmat Singh has been named as the new captain.

Puducherry beat Delhi by nine wickets after bowling out Delhi for 148 and 145 in the two innings of the four-day game in Delhi. Dhull scored 2 and 23 in the match adding more to the reason why the management was unhappy with the former U-19 skipper.

Puducherry scored 244 in the first innings and scored the 50 needed in the second innings losing just one wicket. This was a big loss to one of the heavyweight domestic teams who has produced several reputed cricketers for the national team.

Yash Dhull was the U19 World Cup-winning captain in 2022. He was named the state team captain in December 2022. Since making his first-class debut in February 2022, Dhull has made 1185 runs at an average of 43.88 in 17 matches. But he averaged just 27 in the last Ranji Trophy season.

Himmat Singh, the 27-year-old led Delhi to a win over Mumbai in the last season in Dhull’s absence. In 22 first-class games, Himmat has scored 1174 runs at an average of 39.13 and averaged 45.25 last season. Dhull’s recent batting form has added to the criticism he has coped with a heavy loss against Puducherry. The big loss has pushed Delhi to the bottom of the points table in Elite Group D.

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Himmat’s first game as Delhi captain will be against Jammu & Kashmir on January 12. He will be without the services of Navdeep Saini and Ishant Sharma. While Saini has been picked in the India A squad to face the touring England Lions team, Ishant reportedly will only play Delhi’s home games.

Yash Dhull Is Talented But Out Of Form: DDCA Joint Secretary Rajan Manchanda

“Yash is a talented player but is out of form. We wanted him to do well as a batter, that is why we have relieved him of captaincy duties. Himmat is our senior player and has done very well for us. He will captain the side,” Delhi and District Cricket Association joint secretary (DDCA) Rajan Manchanda told PTI.

Talking about Delhi’s loss against Puducherry, Delhi were bowled out for just 148 in the first innings with Dhull scoring just two. Harsh Tyagi, the batting all-rounder scored an unbeaten 34 which was the top score in the Delhi innings. Himmat Singh scored 24 and Kshitiz Sharma scored 28. Right-arm pacer Gaurav Yadav took 7/49 for Puducherry.

In reply, Puducherry scored 244 runs to take a handy lead of 96 runs. Santosh Ratnaparkhe (60) top-scored for the visitors. Krishna Pandey lower down the order scored a handy 44 with Paras Dogra scoring 31.

Delhi in their second innings was bowled out for 145 with skipper Yas Dhull scoring just 23 in the second innings. Lakshay Thareja scored 24 while Harsh Tyagi was the top-scorer again for Delhji in the second innings with 28. Abin Mathew took 5/39 while Gaurav Yadav took a three-for as he finished with 10 wickets in the match.

Puducherry was set a target of 50 runs which they chased down in less than 14 overs. Interestingly, Delhi last won the Raji Trophy title in the 2007-08 season.

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