New season, old Delhi: Senior coach arrives in USA mid-season, coach Sarandeep struggles and infighting continues | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: The start of the Ranji Trophy season has been nothing short of disastrous for Delhi. Four matches, seven points and sixth place (among eight teams) in the Group D points table means they now need to win all remaining matches to have any chance of qualifying for the knockout stages.Call it a lackadaisical attitude on the part of the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) bosses, absorbed in internal battles, or a lack of match preparation – the Delhi team ultimately suffered.
The DDCA actually continued with coach Sarandeep Singh from the previous season, but the teams were selected on the basis of rush trials and there were no preparatory camps either. Surprisingly, some selections for the Ranji Trophy were made on the basis of performances in the Delhi Premier League – a T20 league. The team did not play a single multi-day match before the season opener, while other teams participated in quality multi-day tournaments to properly prepare.Team cohesion and cohesion were expected to be major issues, and that showed in all four matches. DDCA secretary Ashok Kumar Sharma admitted that the team had failed to form a unit.“There was individual brilliance. Sanat (Sangwan) and Ayush (Doseja) bowled well with the bat. As a team, we are not doing well, which is a concern,” Sharma told TimesofIndia.com.TimesofIndia.com also contacted Joint Secretary Amit Grover, who is also sitting in the selection meetings, but he did not respond.After the humiliating defeat, no one from the Delhi dressing room spoke to the media, but the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), chaired by Vijay Dahiya, held a meeting with the high performance group coaches to discuss the way forward. Only routine discussions followed, as most DDCA corridors agree that a complete overhaul is the need of the hour.
New Delhi: Simarjeet Singh of Delhi reacts after taking a wicket during the first day of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 cricket match between Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi. (PTI Photo/Karma Bhutia)(PTI11_08_2025_000323A)
“You can have as many meetings as you want, but you have to create an environment for cricket. Coach Sarandeep got an extension even after questionable tactics last season where Delhi failed to get the right XI in most of the matches and had some half-hearted calls for the toss. Even this season, the selectors are giving the players he demands but the results are not there. Sarandeep comes to the meetings with data to support his argument,” said a senior DDCA official.Coach Sarandeep is facing wrath as a DDCA insider told TimesofIndia.com that the coach mainly talks about his past glory in team meetings and how he used to take wickets on flat pitches across the country instead of coming up with a foolproof plan for the opposition.
The coach leaves for the private league
In recent years, DDCA has made headlines more for off-field controversies than on-field performances. TimesofIndia.com has learned that coach Manu Nayar was not there and had traveled to participate in a private league in the United States.
Coach Sarandeep got an extension even after questionable tactics last season where Delhi failed to get the right XI in most matches and had some half-hearted calls at the toss.
A DDCA official
The irony is that last week, the DDCA sacked its junior selection committee chairman, Ashu Dani, for his involvement in the corrupt Indian Heaven Premier League (IHPL) played in Jammu and Kashmir. Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) member Surinder Khanna was also shown the door and was replaced by Robin Singh Jr.In a circular, the DDCA sternly reminded all stakeholders to avoid unsanctioned or unauthorized cricket events, but even after the strong message, Nayar, along with Manan Sharma and Gautam Vadhera – also holding positions in the support staff for the season, decided to participate in the league.This isn’t the only drama that has unfolded this season. A major controversy erupted during the selection committee meeting to choose the probables for the Under-23 and Ranji Trophy teams, as secretary Ashok Sharma, also the convener, objected to the presence of three administrators. In a letter addressed to DDCA Chairman Rohan Jaitley, Sharma urged that the selection committee meetings should be held to ensure transparency, fairness and integrity in the selection process.
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The letter said, “The recent selection process has raised serious concerns over the functioning of the DDCA selection committee. Contrary to established practices and guidelines of the BCCI, the members of the Apex Council have overstepped their roles, undermining the autonomy and credibility of the selection committee. We invite you to review the selection process and ensure that it meets the standards and best practices followed by the BCCI.Today, a few administrators also attended the meeting, raising concerns about possible bias and undue influence. In particular, the presence of one of the directors seems particularly relevant given that a member of the family is a candidate for selection.Interestingly, the son of one of the directors, who was present at the meeting, went on to play for the U-23 CK Nayudu Trophy team and had a very disappointing show with the ball. Delhi U-23 have had a disastrous campaign as they are currently bottom of their group.There was no learning from these multi-day outings as the DDCA chose another giant team, whose tickets TimesofIndia.com has seen, for the U-23 State A Trophy. Surprisingly, no official announcement from the team has been made yet and the players would be informed by the managers through phone calls and in a Whatsapp group. With so much happening off the field and not much happening on the field, Delhi are no longer the powerhouse they were on the domestic circuit. It is now up to the Rohan Jaitley-led cricket body to restore order.
