India’s star wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant will be seen in a Delhi jersey in the Ranji Trophy for the first time in seven years when they play Saurashtra in Rajkot.
His availability was confirmed by Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) secretary Ashok Sharma. However, there is no clarity on India’s star batter Virat Kohli’s participation in domestic cricket.
Pant’s decision to play in domestic cricket comes after India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir and BCCI’s decision that players should play for their domestic teams when not on national duty.
Last time, pant played a Ranji Trophy match was back in 2017-18 season. For Kohli, his last last match for Delhi in Ranji Trophy came in 2012. Both have been named in Delhi’s probables for the rest of the season.
“Yes Pant has confirmed his availability for next Ranji game and will join the squad in Rajkot directly. About Virat Kohli we want him to play but we haven’t heard from him while Harshit Rana is selected in the T20 squad and hence is unavailable,” told DDCA secretary Sharma.
Meanwhile Shubman Gill has already made himself available for Punjab in their next Ranji Trophy game while India captain Rohit Sharma has joined his Mumbai Ranji Trophy teammates in practice.
However, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli’s is yet to confirm his participation and other opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has been insisted to join Mumbai teammates in practice.
After the conclusion of Border Gavaskar Trophy, India has rested three weeks before the white-ball series against England, starting on January 22.
India will play a five match T20I series and a three match ODI series before the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 which begins on February 19.
Both Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli are rested for the T20I series along with Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant not included in the 15-member squad for the T20Is against England.
