Following his team’s shocking loss to Puducherry in the Ranji Trophy 2023–24 match, Delhi relieved Yash Dhull of his captaincy on Monday, an official from the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) confirmed. Himmat Singh, an experienced player, was named captain of Delhi for the balance of the Ranji Trophy season. The decision by Delhi to bench their youthful captain joins the growing list of dubious selection decisions made by the former domestic heavyweights in years past.
Puducherry defeated Delhi by nine wickets on Monday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in an Elite Group D match. In the seamer-friendly conditions of the capital, Captain Dhull, who led India to the U19 World Cup in 2022, found it difficult to get going against the Puducherry fast bowlers. In the two innings, he scored two and twenty-three runs, but Delhi never made it to 150 in the first-class match. With an average of 43.88, the 21-year-old batsman has amassed 1185 runs in 17 first-class games for Delhi. It was considered a bold decision for him to be named captain in 2022. He’s hit four hundred, with a perfect 200 among them.
Speaking about the match, Gourav Yadav revealed himself to be the driving force behind Delhi’s loss in the first Ranji Trophy game. With seven wickets for 49 runs in the first innings and ten wickets overall, he had the best performance of his career. His incredible display on the second day set the stage for Puducherry’s supremacy. Another excellent Puducherry bowler, Abin Mathew, compounded Delhi’s problems with a five-wicket haul that included the crucial removal of Dhull. One of the biggest wins in Puducherry’s internal history—one that would be cherished for years to come—was masterfully planned by Yadav and Mathew. Delhi’s next away match is scheduled for January 12 against Jammu and Kashmir.
