In a surprising move, Yash Dhull has been removed as the captain of the Delhi cricket team following a crushing defeat against Puducherry in their opening Ranji Trophy match. The responsibility will now rest on the shoulders of seasoned batsman Himmat Singh as Delhi gears up to face Jammu and Kashmir on January 12.
Dhull, the U-19 World Cup-winning captain, took over the leadership role in December 2022, aiming to rejuvenate Delhi’s performance. However, his recent struggle with form, evident in scores of two and 23 in the last match, has led to the decision to relieve him of captaincy duties.
Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) joint secretary Rajan Manchanda emphasized Dhull’s talent but highlighted the importance of form, stating, “Yash is a talented player but is out of form. We wanted him to do well as a batter, that is why we have relieved him of captaincy duties.”
Himmat Singh, the newly appointed skipper, had previously led Delhi to a notable victory over Mumbai in Dhull’s absence last season. With 22 first-class games under his belt since his debut in 2017, Singh brings experience and leadership to the team.
Delhi’s cricketing saga has been marked by challenges, including the departure of senior players Nitish Rana and Dhruv Shorey last year. Additionally, the absence of key pacers Navdeep Saini and Ishant Sharma for the upcoming match against Jammu and Kashmir raises concerns.
Ishant Sharma, a veteran pacer, will only be available for Delhi’s home games, adding another layer of complexity to the team’s dynamics. Despite their illustrious history, having won the Ranji Trophy seven times, Delhi aims to bounce back from recent setbacks and reclaim cricketing glory, with Himmat Singh at the helm.