Rishabh Pant returns to Ranji after 7 years, Gill and Jaiswal will also take part; Doubt over Kohli’s play

Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) secretary Ashok Sharma on Tuesday said that Indian wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh Pant has declared himself available for Delhi’s upcoming Ranji Trophy match against Saurashtra starting from January 23 in Rajkot.

Pant last represented Delhi in the Ranji Trophy in the 2017-2018 season. However, there is no clarity on the participation of veteran Virat Kohli. Kohli played his last Ranji match in 2012.

Both the Indian players have been included in the list of probable Delhi players for the rest of the season. “Yes, Pant has confirmed his availability for the next Ranji match and will directly join the team in Rajkot,” Ashok Sharma told PTI. We want Virat Kohli to play also, but we have not received his response. Harshit Rana has been selected in the Indian T20 team, so he will not be available.

Former India greats Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri are among the many former players who want the current generation, especially the struggling Rohit Sharma and Kohli, to play domestic cricket in the red-ball format. Shubhman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal are also expected to play for their respective state teams. Rohit attracted a lot of interest by training with the Mumbai team on Tuesday, but it remains to be seen whether he will make himself available for the next round of Ranji Trophy matches starting on January 23.

It is normal for the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) to include its star players in the probables list but their inclusion in the final squad depends on their availability. Rohit rested himself from the last Test in Australia due to poor form. Whereas Kohli was caught behind the wicket (slip or wicketkeeper) eight times in nine innings on the Australia tour.

Apart from Kohli and Pant, Harshit Rana, who is on Australia tour, is also included in the list of 38 probable players. Delhi has to play two matches in the Ranji League stage. The team will play against Saurashtra in Rajkot on January 23. Delhi team is fourth in the table in Group D with 14 points from five matches.