Delhi names Nitish Rana as captain for the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, while Digvesh Rathi misses out. Full squad list, injury updates on Ishant Sharma and Navdeep Saini, and analysis of Delhi’s prospects for the upcoming T20 season.
Nitish Rana has been appointed as the new captain of the Delhi team for the 2025–26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, marking a significant leadership change ahead of India’s premier domestic T20 competition. The seasoned left-hander replaces previous leadership options and steps into the role at a crucial time as Delhi looks to revive its T20 fortunes. Meanwhile, wrist-spinner Digvesh Rathi has failed to find a place in the squad, despite entering the season with strong attention due to his IPL exploits.
The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, beginning on November 26, will see Delhi compete in Elite Group D, grouped with Jharkhand, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Saurashtra, and Tripura. All matches for the group will be held in Ahmedabad, adding a neutral-venue dimension that may influence performance strategies. Delhi has lifted the title only once in its history — back in the 2017–18 season, under the captaincy of Pradeep Sangwan — and will be eager to script a turnaround this year.
Rana’s Domestic Return Marks a New Phase
This season marks Rana’s first major appearance for Delhi after transitioning from Uttar Pradesh. He notably did not feature in the first half of the Ranji Trophy, where Delhi struggled and went winless. His return offers an infusion of experience, leadership, and aggressive batting that the squad has sorely needed.
Rana’s recent domestic performance further strengthens his credentials. Playing for West Delhi Lions, he struck 134, 45, and 79*** in crucial matches to guide his side to the 2025 Delhi Premier League (DPL) title. His consistency and composure under pressure played a vital role, reinforcing his readiness to lead Delhi on the national stage.
Adding to his busy year, Rana will also represent Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026, following a trade from Rajasthan Royals. His ongoing form across formats has placed him at the center of Delhi’s cricketing overhaul.
Digvesh Rathi Left Out After Inconsistent DPL
One of the biggest talking points surrounding the squad selection is the omission of talented wrist-spinner Digvesh Rathi. Rathi, hailed as one of the standout uncapped performers of IPL 2025 for Lucknow Super Giants — where he claimed 14 wickets at a 7.59 economy — was widely expected to feature in Delhi’s squad.
However, a modest showing in DPL 2025, coupled with stiff competition for spinning roles, appears to have cost him a berth. The situation gained attention earlier when a verbal exchange between Rana and Rathi during DPL’s Qualifier 1 went viral online, but the selectors emphasized performance-based decisions over off-field incidents.
The squad was finalized by the selection committee comprising Yashpal Singh, K. Bhaskar Pillai, and Manu Nayar, with head coach Sarandeep Singh, CAC Chairman Vijay Dahiya, and DDCA Secretary Ashok Sharma present during deliberations.
Injuries Affect Key Delhi Stars
The squad announcement was also clouded by uncertainty surrounding two senior fast bowlers. Veteran pacer Ishant Sharma has been included but his availability depends on recovery from an ongoing injury, for which he is currently undergoing rehab at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Similar concerns surround Navdeep Saini, who is also recovering from a fitness issue that restricted his Ranji Trophy participation.
All-rounder Harshit Rana has been listed as “subject to availability,” though in his case, national-team commitments may intervene. He is currently being considered for India’s upcoming limited-overs series — three ODIs and five T20Is — against South Africa.
Reinforcements from India A and DPL Breakouts
Opener Priyansh Arya and leg-spinner Suyash Sharma — fresh from India A duties at the Rising Asia Cup in Doha — will join the squad after their team’s semi-final exit to Bangladesh A.
The selection committee has also rewarded several standout performers from the DPL, including Arpit Rana, Sarthak Ranjan, Tejasvi Dahiya, Ayush Doseja, Money Grewal, and Simarjeet Singh. The mix of youth, domestic consistency, and experienced campaigners is expected to give Delhi a stronger balance than in recent seasons.
The squad is set to leave for Ahmedabad by either Sunday evening or Monday morning, giving them adequate preparation time before the tournament opener.
Full Delhi Squad for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025–26
Nitish Rana (captain), Priyansh Arya, Sarthak Ranjan, Ayush Badoni, Arpit Rana, Ayush Doseja, Mayank Rawat, Tejasvi (wk), Anuj Rawat (wk), Himmat Singh, Yash Dhull, Simarjeet Singh, Rahul Dagar, Yash Bhatia, Ankit Rajesh Kumar, Harsh Tyagi, Suyash Sharma, Prince Yadav, Money Grewal, Rohan Rana, Dhruv Kaushik, Aryan Rana, Vaibhav Kandpal.
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