Ishant Sharma included as Delhi announce 16-member SMAT squad

ew Delhi: Veteran fast bowler Ishant Sharma has been named in Delhi’s 16-member squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, while experienced left-handed batter Nitish Rana has been left out, the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) said on Friday.

The squad was selected at a meeting of the senior men’s selection committee held at the DDCA premises on Friday afternoon. Selectors K Bhaskar Pillai, Manu Nayar and Praveen Gupta were present, along with head coach Vijay Dahiya, Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) chairman Sarandeep Singh and DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma.

Ishant’s selection indicates that the senior right-arm pacer, who has played more than 100 Tests, is keen to continue playing domestic white-ball cricket for Delhi. His experience is also expected to be valuable for fellow fast bowlers Mayank Yadav, Harshit Rana and Simarjeet Singh.

IANS understands that Rana might play one game for Delhi to assess whether he is fully fit after undergoing extensive rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Rana has been named in the India A squad for the Men’s Rising Stars Asia Cup, which will be played in the 50-over format from November 19 to 29 in Doha, Qatar.

Rana has not played any cricket since sustaining a hamstring injury during the third T20I against England, which ruled him out of the series. He was a conditional pick for the T20Is against Afghanistan and the Asian Games, but suffered a left quadriceps strain during a match simulation at the CoE on September 7, extending his rehabilitation period.

Batting all-rounder Ayush Badoni will lead Delhi in the tournament and will open the team’s Elite Group B campaign against Jammu and Kashmir in Indore on November 14. Badoni finished the first phase of the Ranji Trophy as the second-highest run-scorer, with 559 runs in four matches at an average of 111.8. His tally included scores of 210 not out and 217 against Gujarat and Jharkhand, respectively.

The spin options include leg-spinner Suyash Sharma and mystery spinner Digvesh Rathi, while Mayank Rawat and Keshav Dabas are the all-rounders. In the batting department, Badoni will be joined by opener Priyansh Arya, former India U-19 captain Yash Dhull, Himmat Singh, Sarthak Ranjan and Ayush Doseja. Anuj Rawat and Tejasvi are the two wicketkeepers in the squad.

After the opening game, Delhi will face Punjab on November 16, Bihar on November 18, Saurashtra on November 20, Haryana on November 22, Tamil Nadu on November 24 and Railways on November 26.

Delhi have won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy only once, in the 2017-18 season, under the leadership of Pradeep Sangwan.

Squad: Ayush Badoni (captain), Priyansh Arya, Sarthak Ranjan, Yash Dhull, Ayush Doseja, Tejasvi (wk), Anuj Rawat (wk), Himmat Singh, Mayank Rawat, Keshav Dabas, Suyash Sharma, Digvesh Rathi, Ishant Sharma, Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav and Simarjeet Singh.