Star batter Virat Kohli and the dynamic Rishabh Pant have both been included in a large 84-player list of problems for the Delhi Ranji Trophy. However, it is expected that neither of them will participate in any of the red-ball matches this season.
However, veteran fast bowler Ishant Sharma has not been included in the list. However, the two IPL sensations, Mayank Yadav and Harshit Rana have been added to the Delhi’s Ranji squad.
Kohli last played the Ranji Trophy for Delhi in 2012 in Ghaziabad against Uttar Pradesh, while Pant’s last red ball game for Delhi was before the COVID pandemic.
A DDCA official told PTI, “This is a protocol. They are our registered players and it is our duty to put their names in the probables list in case they want to play.”
For 35-year-old Ishant, who has played 100 Tests, it seems pointless for him to play in the Ranji Trophy because he is not part of the national team plans anymore.
Ishant also didn’t participate in the first Delhi Premier League (DPL), but it will be interesting to see if he chooses to play in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, which takes place just before the IPL auctions.
