Ishant left out of Delhi Ranji squad

ESPNCricinfo: Delhi have left Test bowler Ishant Sharma out of their Ranji Trophy squad because he “didn’t answer our call nor responded to my text”, Vinay Lamba, their chairman of selectors has told ESPNcricinfo. Ishant, who is in the middle of a Test resurgence, was not picked in India’s limited-overs sides to play South Africa.

He should be available to play domestic cricket until the Tests, which begin in the first week of November, but an already controversial Delhi team has courted more of it by leaving him out. That was not the end of it all: Rajat Bhatia, an important allrounder in Indian domestic cricket, was also left out of the squad that will be captained by Gautam Gambhir. That a selection meeting took place in the first place was an achievement for Delhi after three different squads had been released by three different factions to report to the preparatory camp. There is no clarity yet on who the coach will be although Ajay Jadeja, the man nominated and approved by the government nominees, is looking after the team right now. The administrators will be a little relieved the focus has shifted to controversial selections for now.

Asked if Ishant had expressed his unwillingness to play, Lamba said, “He is our senior bowler, how can we say that about him? But we tried to get in touch with him yesterday, but he didn’t respond. I left a text, but didn’t get a reply.” Now, it would appear, that the ball is in Ishant’s court.

While Ishant will be the major news, Bhatia’s exclusion would also surprise the followers of domestic cricket. He has been a valuable player for Delhi over the years, and averaged 34 with the bat for 305 runs and 23 with the ball for 12 wickets last season in the Ranji Trophy. He will turn 36 this season, but is quite fit.

There have been rumours that Gambhir and Bhatia, team-mates also at Kolkata Knight Riders until Bhatia was picked up by Rajasthan Royals at the 2014 IPL auction, have fallen out. Sources inside the DDCA said that while Gambhir did say that “it would be difficult” to play Bhatia in the XI, it had nothing to do with any personal equation. Once told that, the selectors said they didn’t want to pick “such a senior” player just to bench him. Sources said Gambhir had called up Bhatia and explained to him why he was not being picked.

There had earlier been reports of there being indecision over whether Gambhir or Unmukt Chand - India A’s limited-overs captain against Bangladesh A - should lead the side. Chand was named deputy to Gambhir in the squad that has seven batsmen, two spinners, five quicks and a wicketkeeper.