RANJI TROPHY | Delhi hopes to step up on home turf against J&K

Delhi’s home fixtures in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season are yet to yield desired results. While it was unable to force an outright win against Himachal Pradesh after taking the first-innings honours in the second round, the draw against Pondicherry in the third round saw the visitor claim the lead and enjoy the upper hand for much of the contest.

With just one Ranji game remaining at the Arun Jaitley Stadium this season, the onus is on Delhi to utilise the familiar conditions to its advantage when it takes on Jammu & Kashmir in Group D from Saturday.

Skipper Ayush Badoni has returned to the set-up after missing Delhi’s previous match due to his involvement in the first four-day encounter between India-A and South Africa-A in Bengaluru.

Priyansh Arya, who made his First Class debut in the last round, is set to miss the clash. The 24-year-old has been picked in the India-A squad for the Rising Stars Asia Cup in Doha from November 14.

The playing surface had grassy patches on Friday, but the tendency at the venue this season has been for the pitch to flatten out as the match progresses. If that is the case over the next four days, Delhi’s bowling unit will have to substantially raise its game.

Right-arm medium-fast bowler Auqib Nabi during Ranji Trophy match against Mumbai at the Sher-I-Kashmir Stadium on October 16, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
IMRAN NISSAR

For J&K, the wicket-taking nous of medium-pacer Auqib Nabi will be essential. The 29-year-old from Baramulla has been in splendid form at the start of the new season, claiming 19 wickets in three games at a strike rate of 31.4.

“Auqib keeps things simple. He moves the ball both ways. He has the inswinger and outswinger. He is a very good talent,” J&K captain Paras Dogra said on Friday. “He knows what he is doing. It is not just one game. He has been very consistent. Even when he isn’t picking wickets, he doesn’t give away runs easily.”