Sarthak Ranjan returns to Delhi Ranji Trophy squad after 8-year gap
Synopsis
Eight years after his last Ranji Trophy appearance for Delhi, Sarthak Ranjan — son of politicians Pappu Yadav and Ranjeet Ranjan — is back in the red-ball fold. His IPL stint with Kolkata Knight Riders appears to have revived his case, and his recall headlines a 16-member Delhi squad that carries knockout ambitions under new coach Vijay Dahiya for the first time in three seasons.
Key Takeaways
Sarthak Ranjan recalled to Delhi's Ranji Trophy squad after eight years , last featuring in 2018 .
DDCA named a 16-member squad for the Elite Group C opener against Bengal on 11 October in Kalyani .
Ayush Badoni leads the side; Yash Dhull named vice-captain.
Navdeep Saini heads the pace attack; Hrithik Shokeen and Sumit Mathur lead the spin department.
Delhi last won the Ranji Trophy in 2007/08 and have missed the knockouts in each of the last two seasons .
Opener Sarthak Ranjan has been recalled to the Delhi Ranji Trophy squad after an eight-year absence, as the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) named a 16-member contingent for their Elite Group C season opener against Bengal on 11 October in Kalyani. Ranjan last appeared in Delhi's red-ball setup in 2018, featuring in two Ranji Trophy matches before fading from the picture.
Selection Meeting and Squad Announcement
The selection committee convened at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday, 3 October to finalise the squad. The meeting brought together selectors K. Bhaskar Pillai, Manu Nayar, and Praveen Gupta, along with head coach Vijay Dahiya, Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) chairman Sarandeep Singh, and DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma.
Key Inclusions and Leadership
Batting all-rounder Ayush Badoni retains the captaincy, with former India U-19 World Cup-winning skipper Yash Dhull named his deputy. The headline recall, however, belongs to Sarthak Ranjan — son of politician Pappu Yadav and Ranjeet Ranjan — whose return follows a stint with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL earlier this year.
Bowling and Wicketkeeping Depth
Delhi's pace attack will be spearheaded by fast bowler Navdeep Saini, with Simarjeet Singh, Money Grewal, and Divij Mehra providing further options. The spin department will be anchored by off-spinner Hrithik Shokeen and left-arm spinner Sumit Mathur, supplemented by Badoni's off-spin. The squad carries three wicketkeeping options in Anuj Rawat, Pranav Rajvanshi, and Tejasvi Dahiya, offering considerable flexibility in combination selection.
Context: Delhi's Ranji Drought and Renewed Ambitions
Delhi last lifted the Ranji Trophy in the 2007/08 season — a gap of over 16 years. The side has also failed to advance to the knockout rounds in each of the last two seasons, making this campaign particularly significant under new head coach Vijay Dahiya. Notably, Sanat Sangwan is currently engaged in the Irani Cup for Rest of India against Jammu & Kashmir in Srinagar and will join the group subsequently. All selected players have been asked to report to Dahiya at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday for a practice session ahead of their departure for Kalyani.
Full Squad
Ayush Badoni (captain), Yash Dhull (vice-captain), Sanat Sangwan, Ayush Doseja, Anuj Rawat (wk), Dev Lakra, Hrithik Shokeen, Divij Mehra, Money Grewal, Simarjeet Singh, Navdeep Saini, Pranav Rajvanshi (wk), Sarthak Ranjan, Tejasvi Dahiya (wk), Dhruv Kaushik, and Sumit Mathur.
With a fresh coaching setup and a blend of experienced names and returning talent, Delhi will be aiming to end their knockout drought when they face Bengal in Kalyani on 11 October.
Point of View
And Delhi's batting has lacked reliable openers in recent seasons. The more telling subplot, however, is the pressure on head coach Vijay Dahiya: Delhi's failure to reach the knockouts in consecutive seasons, despite a historically rich cricketing infrastructure, points to structural issues beyond squad selection. Whether a returning Ranjan and a familiar captain in Badoni can shift that trajectory will be the real test of this campaign.
NationPress
3 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Sarthak Ranjan recalled to the Delhi Ranji Trophy squad?
Sarthak Ranjan was recalled after an eight-year gap, with his IPL stint with Kolkata Knight Riders earlier this year appearing to have strengthened his case for a return to Delhi's red-ball setup. He last played Ranji Trophy cricket for Delhi in 2018.
When and where is Delhi's Ranji Trophy opener against Bengal?
Delhi face Bengal on 11 October in Kalyani as part of Elite Group C of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season. All selected players have been asked to attend a practice session at the Arun Jaitley Stadium before departure.
Who is captaining Delhi in the Ranji Trophy this season?
Batting all-rounder Ayush Badoni continues as captain, with former India U-19 World Cup-winning skipper Yash Dhull named as his deputy for the campaign.
Who are the key bowlers in Delhi's Ranji Trophy squad?
Fast bowler Navdeep Saini leads the pace attack, supported by Simarjeet Singh, Money Grewal, and Divij Mehra. Off-spinner Hrithik Shokeen and left-arm spinner Sumit Mathur anchor the spin department.
When did Delhi last win the Ranji Trophy?
Delhi last won the Ranji Trophy in the 2007/08 season, over 16 years ago. The side has also failed to qualify for the knockout rounds in each of the last two seasons under previous coaching setups.
