Ayush Badoni to Lead Delhi’s 24-Member Squad for Ranji Trophy Opener; Nitish Rana Returns

Delhi’s record 24-member squad for the upcoming Ranji Trophy season has been announced, with Ayush Badoni named captain and Yash Dhull as his deputy for the opening match against Hyderabad starting October 15.

The Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) selection committee, which met on Thursday, also welcomed back senior batter Nitish Rana into the red-ball squad following his brief stint with Uttar Pradesh.

Addressing the unusually large squad size, DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma explained that the 24-member pool allows flexibility during matches, though the squad will be trimmed to 15 for home games in Delhi.

The expanded lineup reflects the selectors’ strategy of keeping a wider talent pool ready for rotation and injury contingencies, while ensuring Delhi fields a strong and competitive side for the Ranji Trophy campaign.