New Delhi buzzes with cricket updates as Delhi gears up for its final Ranji Trophy Elite Group D clash against table-toppers Mumbai at BKC Ground. However, two key players, Ayush Badoni and Priyansh Arya, will be absent from this crucial encounter starting Thursday.
Mumbai has already secured a knockout spot, leaving Delhi, currently sixth, eager to end the domestic season on a high note. The absence of Badoni and Arya stems from their selection for India A’s warm-up matches ahead of the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup.
India A will face USA on February 2 at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, followed by a bout against Namibia on February 6 at BCCI’s COE Ground in Bengaluru. These games are vital preparations for the T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.
Badoni, who recently earned his maiden India call-up for the New Zealand ODI series but didn’t feature, has prior India A experience in four-day and List A formats. Arya, primarily a white-ball specialist, joins him for this stint.
Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) Secretary Ashok Sharma confirmed the duo’s unavailability, highlighting Ayush Dossage as the new captain. Dossage, the tournament’s top run-scorer, steps up for the seventh-round match.
‘Dossage will lead Delhi against Mumbai. He’s been phenomenal with the bat this Ranji season,’ Sharma noted.
Delhi’s squad boasts talents like Sanat Sangwan, Vaibhav Kandpal, and Sumit Mathur, all set to challenge Mumbai’s dominance. As the Ranji Trophy intensifies, these national duties underscore the depth in Indian cricket talent pipelines.