On the eve of their second Ranji Trophy game against Uttar Pradesh, there were mixed feelings in the Delhi dressing room on Thursday. Every single player was seen congratulating opener Gautam Gambhir on his inclusion into the Indian Test team for South Africa; on the other hand, the team management was busy in finding a replacement for their star batsman.
This was the first time in the last few years that Delhi had the services of all their star players, except Virender Sehwag — Gambhir, Ashish Nehra and Aakash Chopra — and they started the season on a positive note, taking two crucial points from Tamil Nadu. The absence of the free-flowing opener Gambhir would certainly be felt in the game against the defending champions.
But the way Delhi have approached the season so far, opting for a dead track for the second time in a row, the match against UP is likely to be a two-point affair in all probability.
The last time Delhi played Uttar Pradesh at Kanpur three seasons ago, they were made to feel at home by a typical Delhi-style wicket there. Delhi have reciprocated in the same spirit by giving them a flat track, similar to their home wicket.
Despite knowing it from the beginning that their main strength lie in the batting, the Delhi team management has not bothered to give their bowlers a chance to take 20 wickets in a match.
{{/usCountry}}Despite knowing it from the beginning that their main strength lie in the batting, the Delhi team management has not bothered to give their bowlers a chance to take 20 wickets in a match.
{{/usCountry}}In the last three seasons, everyone in the Delhi camp used to crib about not having their home ground advantage because of the renovation work at the Kotla. But now that the Kotla is finally available for the all four home games, the “safety first” approach has refused to get out of their minds.
Apparently, Delhi skipper Mithun Manhas asked for a track with a tinge of green, but due to the time constraint and the nature of the soil, the Kotla groundsmen failed to oblige him.
“The wicket would certainly be better than the last one, with some grass on it. But don’t expect much out of it,” said Delhi coach Chetan Chauhan on Thursday. In the last match, speedsters Ashish Nehra and Ishant Sharma bowled their heart out but failed to get any assistance from the wicket.
Delhi are expected to go in with an extra seamer. Though former captain Amit Bhandari has declared himself fit, Kunnal Lall could well be preferred over him. The Delhi selectors have also picked the reserve wicket-keeper batsman Puneet Bisht to replace Gambhir.