Ranji Trophy: Kandpal and Doseja’s gritty stand keeps Delhi afloat against Mumbai

Divij Mehra’s five-wicket haul and a fluent 106-run partnership between Vaibhav Kandpal and captain Ayush Doseja boosted Delhi’s hopes of avoiding defeat against Mumbai in their final Ranji Trophy Group D fixture here on Saturday.

Mehra’s second five-wicket haul in First Class cricket — both against Mumbai — ensured the hosts did not run away with the game in the morning session. The left-handed duo of Kandpal (61, 107b, 7×4) and Doseja (62 batting, 78b, 6×4) resisted Mumbai from scything through the Delhi middle-order as the away side finished the penultimate day’s proceedings at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy ground at 206 for four, ahead by 110 runs.

Using the second new ball to telling effect, Mehra repeatedly hit the right length and was rewarded for his discipline as Mumbai, resuming at 266 for five, added just 51 runs for its last five wickets.

Mumbai was hoping that captain Siddhesh Lad and Suved Parkar would see off the new ball, but both were dismissed within the first half hour. Money Grewal struck early by breaching Lad’s defence, while Mehra forced Parkar into a loose drive outside off that flew to the wicketkeeper. Mehra completed his fife-for when Mohit Avasthi was adjudged caught behind before debutant Rahul Dagar picked up his maiden wicket as Mumbai was bowled out for 317, securing a first-innings lead of 96.

Delhi’s reply began shakily when Tushar Deshpande struck in his fifth over, trapping Dagar in front of the wicket. Soon after, Sanat Sangwan — the first-innings centurion — was caught at first slip by substitute Hardik Tamore, raising Mumbai’s hopes of a collapse. Tamore was on the field right through the day in place of Sarfaraz Khan, who appeared to have stretched his hamstring while batting.

Kandpal and Aryan Rana steadied the innings with a measured stand before Rana was caught and bowled by Himanshu Singh. That brought Doseja to the crease, and the captain rose to the occasion.

Kandpal, who survived a blow to the helmet during a short-ball burst from Deshpande, batted with assurance, while Doseja looked fluent square of the wicket and behind point. The pair rotated the strike well and picked its moments to attack, preventing Mumbai from controlling the game.

Delhi suffered a big blow when Kandpal top-edged Himanshu to deep square leg in the final over of the day.

The scores: Delhi — 1st innings: 221.

Mumbai — 1st innings: Akhil Herwadkar c Rana b Mehra 12, Akash Anand c Rana b Mehra 4, Tushar Deshpande c Chaudhary b Grewal 1, Musheer Khan c Rajvanshi b Chaudhary 57, Siddhesh Lad b Grewal 103, Sarfaraz Khan c Rajvanshi b Grewal 24, Suved Parkar c Rajvanshi b Mehra 58, Shams Mulani b Dagar 34, Himanshu Singh lbw b Mehra 4, Mohit Avasthi c Rajvanshi b Mehra 5, Omkar Tarmale (not out) 1; Extras (b-5, lb-6, w-3): 14; Total (in 103.2 overs): 317.

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-18, 3-44, 4-107, 5-136, 6-272, 7-272, 8-278, 9-303.

Delhi bowling: Mehra 31-8-64-5, Grewal 26-5-74-3, Dagar 12.2-1-28-1, Chaudhary 17-0-82-1, Mathur 12-2-37-0, Kandpal 5-0-21-0.

Delhi — 2nd innings: Sanat Sangwan c sub (Tamore) b Tarmale 24, Rahul Dagar lbw b Deshpande 19, Vaibhav Kandpal c Tarmale b Himanshu 61, Aryan Rana c & b Himanshu 21, Ayush Doseja (batting) 62, Divij Mehra (batting) 0; Extras (b-4, lb-2, nb-1, w-12): 19; Total (for four wkts. in 51 overs): 206.

Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-51, 3-100, 4-206.

Mumbai bowling: Deshpande 13-1-68-1, Avasthi 8-0-30-0, Mulani 8-1-24-0, Tarmale 9-0-38-1, Himanshu 9-0-23-2, Musheer 4-0-17-0.

Published – January 31, 2026 08:54 pm IST