Ayush Badoni to Captain Delhi's Record 24-Member Ranji Trophy Squad as Nitish Rana Makes Comeback

The Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) has announced an unprecedented 24-member squad for their opening Ranji Trophy match against Hyderabad starting October 15, with young all-rounder Ayush Badoni appointed captain and Yash Dhull named his deputy. The massive squad marks one of the largest ever selected for a domestic first-class match in Indian cricket.

Leadership and Key Selections

The 25-year-old Badoni, known for his explosive batting with Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL, will lead Delhi after recently captaining India 'A' during red-ball games against Australia 'A' in Lucknow. His appointment signals Delhi's investment in youth leadership, with Dhull—who led India to the Under-19 World Cup title—serving as his second-in-command.

DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma explained the rationale behind the jumbo squad:

"The selectors have named 24 because they felt that a larger pool is always available for selection during each game. However, when we play home games in Delhi, we will prune it down to 15."

Nitish Rana's Return

One of the most significant selections is the return of senior left-handed batter Nitish Rana, who is back with Delhi after a brief stint with Uttar Pradesh. Rana enjoyed a stellar Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2025, where he led West Delhi Lions to victory while remaining unbeaten in all three knockout matches—scoring 134*, 45*, and 79* for a combined 258 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 198.4.

However, questions persist about his red-ball readiness. A DDCA official speaking on condition of anonymity revealed:

"Nitish Rana isn't even fully fit for red-ball engagements and yet he has been drafted in."

Despite these concerns, Sharma defended the selection: "He is an experienced player and the selectors wanted to check him out. In any case, he will play the white-ball leg."

Priyansh Arya's Maiden Call-Up

Another exciting inclusion is Priyansh Arya, who earns his maiden first-class call-up following an explosive IPL 2025 season with Punjab Kings. Arya smashed 475 runs at a strike rate of 179.24, highlighted by a blistering 103 off 42 balls against Chennai Super Kings. He also impressed in last year's Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with a rapid 102 off 43 balls against Uttar Pradesh.

Rishabh Pant's Expected Return

While wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant isn't part of the opening match squad, the DDCA confirmed his expected participation from the second round starting October 25 against Himachal Pradesh at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

"In fact, in the next game, we are expecting Rishabh Pant to play," Sharma stated.

Pant has been recovering from a foot injury sustained during India's Test tour of England in July and is targeting a domestic cricket comeback before the South Africa Test series in November.

The 24-Player Logistics

The BCCI's anti-corruption code permits only 15 players inside the dressing room during matches, raising questions about the practicality of a 24-member squad. A senior DDCA official clarified the arrangement:

"Apart from 15 chosen for the game, the other nine would spend four days in the team hotel."

This approach allows maximum flexibility while maintaining a larger talent pool readily available for selection adjustments based on pitch conditions, opposition, and player form.

Selection Committee Controversy

Interestingly, the squad announcement release doesn't mention the selection committee chairman's name, reflecting an internal dispute within DDCA. One former BCCI office bearer wants Services' Yashpal Singh to head the panel, while current DDCA officials favor KP Bhaskar.

The selection meeting was attended by Yashpal Singh, K Bhaskar Pillai, Manu Nayar, chief coach Sarandeep Singh, CAC member Surinder Khanna, and DDCA officials Ashok Sharma and Amit Grover.

Notable Omissions

Despite the large squad size, some significant names were left out. International pacer Harshit Rana's exclusion is likely due to his commitments with the Indian team. However, veteran batsman Jonty Sidhu and CSK's Vansh Bedi were surprisingly omitted, raising eyebrows among Delhi cricket circles.

Reports suggest DPL 2025 performances carried significant weight in selections, with no prior practice matches or simulation games conducted before the announcement.

The Full Squad

Delhi Ranji Trophy Squad: Ayush Badoni (captain), Yash Dhull (vice-captain), Arpit Rana, Sanat Sangwan, Anuj Rawat (wk), Sumit Mathur, Shivam Sharma, Rounak Waghela, Navdeep Saini, Simarjeet Singh, Money Grewal, Siddhant Sharma, Dhruv Kaushik, Pranav Rajvanshi (wk), Nitish Rana, Himmat Singh, Ayush Doseja, Rahul Dagar, Hrithik Shokeen, Priyansh Arya, Tejasvi (wk), Vaibhav Kandpal, Rohan Rana, Aryan Rana (subject to fitness).

All players have been instructed to report to chief coach Sarandeep Singh for practice on October 10 at St Stephen's Ground before departing for Hyderabad.

Looking Ahead

Delhi will begin their 2025/26 Ranji Trophy campaign with an away fixture at NexGen Cricket Ground in Hyderabad on October 15, before returning home to host Himachal Pradesh on October 25. Subsequent fixtures include matches against Puducherry, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Mumbai through the group stage.

With a blend of experienced campaigners like Nitish Rana and Navdeep Saini alongside exciting young talents like Priyansh Arya and Ayush Badoni, Delhi will aim to improve upon last season's performance and mount a serious challenge for the Ranji Trophy title.