Despite Virat Kohli’s underwhelming return, Delhi secures a commanding victory, finishing third in Group D but missing out on knockouts.
New Delhi, February 1 – A stellar all-round performance from Sumit Mathur and an explosive knock from skipper Ayush Badoni powered Delhi to a resounding innings-and-19-run victory over Railways in their final Ranji Trophy league-stage match at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday.
Despite this emphatic win, Delhi finishes third in Group D with two wins, two draws, and three losses, accumulating 21 points—falling short of a knockout berth.
The match also marked the much-anticipated return of Virat Kohli to the Ranji Trophy after 13 years, but the star batter failed to make an impact, scoring just 6 off 15 balls in Delhi’s first innings.
Railways Struggle After Early Collapse
Winning the toss, Delhi elected to bowl first, and Railways found themselves struggling at 66/5. However, Upendra Yadav (95 off 177 balls, 10 fours, 1 six) and Karn Sharma (50 off 105 balls, 7 fours, 1 six) stitched a crucial partnership to take Railways to 241 all out.
For Delhi, Sumit Mathur (3/20) and Navdeep Saini (3/62) led the bowling attack, dismantling Railways’ top order.
Delhi’s First Innings: Mathur & Badoni Steer the Comeback
Delhi’s innings started on a shaky note:
🔹 Arpit Rana (10) fell early.
🔹 Sanat Sangwan (30) and Yash Dhull (32) added 67 runs, but their dismissals left Delhi at 97/4.
The crowd erupted when Virat Kohli walked in, but his return was short-lived, as Himanshu Sangwan (4/55) cleaned up his stumps for just 6 runs in 15 balls.
However, Sumit Mathur (86 off 206) and Ayush Badoni (99 off 77, 12 fours, 1 six) turned the game around with a 133-run partnership, helping Delhi post 374 all out, securing a 133-run first-innings lead.
Railways’ Himanshu Sangwan (4/55) and Kunal Yadav (3/104) were the standout bowlers.
Railways Collapses in Second Innings
Railways faltered in the final innings, managing just 114 runs, with only Mohammad Saif (31 off 31) and Ayan Chaudhari (30 off 30)* showing resistance.
Delhi’s Shivam Sharma (5/33) ran through the batting lineup, securing a match-winning five-wicket haul and sealing a dominant innings victory for Delhi.
Final Takeaway
With this commanding win, Delhi ended their campaign on a high, but missed out on a knockout spot. Sumit Mathur was named ‘Player of the Match’ for his all-round brilliance.
Delhi Ranji Trophy, Ranji Trophy 2024, Sumit Mathur, Ayush Badoni, Virat Kohli, Delhi Cricket, Railways Cricket, Domestic Cricket, Shivam Sharma, Navdeep Saini, Cricket News, Arun Jaitley Stadium
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