Rishabh Pant appointed Delhi Captain for Ranji Trophy, Virat Kohli's participation still uncertain

The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) will announce their squad for the upcoming Ranji Trophy match against Saurashtra on Friday, January 17. Wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant is expected to lead the Delhi team, but there is no confirmation yet regarding star batter Virat Kohli’s participation.

After India lost 3-1 to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 series, Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir had urged players to participate in domestic cricket. The BCCI had previously instructed players to play in domestic cricket matches unless they were injured or on national duty.

Rishabh Pant to Lead Delhi in Away Game Against Saurashtra

According to a Times of India report, the Delhi and District Cricket Association is set to announce their squad for the upcoming match. Rishabh Pant is expected to captain the team in this crucial game. However, the DDCA is still awaiting confirmation on whether Virat Kohli will participate in the first-class match.

"A selection meeting will happen in the afternoon tomorrow and it's likely that Rishabh Pant will be the skipper for the away game versus Saurashtra," says a senior DDCA official.

How Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli Fared in BGT 2024-25

Rishabh Pant last played a Ranji Trophy match in the 2017-2018 season, while Virat Kohli hasn’t participated in the domestic tournament since 2012. Both players are included in Delhi's list of probables for the remainder of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season, but their final inclusion depends on their availability.

Rishabh and Virat had underwhelming performances in the BGT. Pant scored 255 runs across nine innings, with an average of 28.33. Kohli managed 190 runs in nine innings, with an average of 23.75. He scored an unbeaten 100 in the second innings of the first Test in Perth, but he failed to score another fifty.

Meanwhile, top-order batters Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal are expected to play for their respective teams in the Ranji Trophy. Team India skipper Rohit Sharma also trained with the Mumbai Ranji Trophy squad, but it's unclear whether he will play in the match against Jammu & Kashmir starting on January 23.

Harshit Rana Unavailable for Delhi Due to England T20I Selection

The senior selection committee, led by Gursharan Singh, is set to choose the squad for Delhi's next Ranji Trophy match. A camp of 38 probables is ongoing at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, with Rishabh Pant, Virat Kohli, and Harshit Rana named as additional players, but their participation depends on availability.

Harshit Rana is unavailable due to his selection for the England T20Is, while the Delhi and District Cricket Association is still awaiting confirmation from Kohli. Pant, however, has confirmed his availability to DDCA president Rohan Jaitley and is excited to reconnect with his former junior teammates.

Delhi is fourth in their group with 14 points from five games. To qualify for the knockout stages, they must secure strong performances in their remaining matches against Saurashtra (away) and Railways (home). Tamil Nadu currently leads Group D with 19 points, followed by Chandigarh with the same total.

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