Like the billionaire investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, Gautam Gambhir, the tenacious former opener-turned-coach, also seems to be governed by instincts while picking unheralded players and turning them into match-winners, points out Vishal Menon.
The pace-spin combination of Parminder Awana, who claimed a hat-trick, and Chaitanya Nanda shared eight wickets between them in Delhi's seven-wicket victory over hosts Maharashtra.
Gautam Gambhir and Aakash Chopra struck centuries in the second innings to restore dented pride after star-studded Delhi faced the ignominy of following on against unfancied Himachal Pradesh
Displaying steely resolve, Dhruv Shorey stood out with an unbeaten century and steered Delhi to 271 for six, but Vidarbha did just enough to share honours on day one of the Ranji Trophy final in Indore.
Young left-hander Vaibhav Rawal's impressive show continued as he scored a century to help Delhi pile up a massive 523 for nine declared on the second of their final group league encounter against Vidarbha in Nagpur on Sunday.
Ishank Jaggi scored an unbeaten century while Ishan Kishan made 83 to hand Jharkhand the crucial first innings lead over Haryana in a Ranji Trophy match.
It was another Ranji Trophy match at Bansi Lal Stadium that turned out to be farcical contest as Baroda beat Bengal by 21 runs with 40 wickets falling well inside two days.
Speedster Amit Bhandari claimed three wickets as Delhi took control of the Ranji Trophy match against Gujarat.
Minnows Odisha hit back in the final session to pick three Delhi wickets, after the home team bowlers dismissed them for a paltry 143, in the second round Ranji Trophy encounter at the Ferozshah Kotla in Delhi on Friday. Having gained the upper hand, Delhi's top-order, however, couldn't perform as per expectations and they were reduced 62 for 3 in 31 overs when stumps were drawn.
Abhimanyu Easwaran dropped anchor at one end as his 97-run stand with Shreevats Goswami enabled Bengal to reach 185 for four against Madhya Pradesh on the first day of their final group league encounter of the Ranji Trophy, in New Delhi on Wednesday.
A round-up of final day of the Ranji Trophy matches played on Thursday.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India's acting secretary Amitabh Chaudhary blamed CEO Rahul Johri for the Board's non-objection to the International Cricket Council's decision of converting the 2021 Champions Trophy into a World T20 championship.
Amit Bhandari and Sanjay Gill claimed three wickets each to earn a slender 15-run lead for Delhi.
Replying to Gujarat's first innings total of 214, the visitors declared their first innings on 430 for 8 and then had Gujarat reeling on 205 for 5 at close of play on day 3 of the match.
"The match is on," said Rajat Bhatia, some time after playing what was probably one of the best knocks of his career.
Opener Gautam Gambhir fell four runs short of his second successive century, but Delhi's batting crumbled after his dismissal in the post-lunch session.
Hosts Haryana are in an advantageous position against Delhi, having ensured three points after the first innings lead and then extending it to 250 at stumps on the penultimate day of their Ranji Trophy group league match at the Bansi Lal stadium in Rohtak, on Monday. Haryana got the vital first innings lead after Delhi were dismissed for 224, in reply to their first innings total of 307.
Unmukt Chand's impressive half century was the lone bright spot in an otherwise dull day for Delhi as they were struggling 165 for six in reply to Haryana's decent first innings score of 307 in a group league encounter of the Ranji Trophy.
Mohit Sharma cashed in on dropped chances to notch his maiden first-class hundred as Delhi piled the agony on Tamil Nadu by declaring their first innings on 555 for 4 in their Ranji Trophy Group B match in Delhi on Sunday.
Mithun Manhas played a brilliant innings on a poor Feroz Shah Kotla pitch as Delhi look well and truly on their way to notching up their first outright win in the second round Ranji Trophy encounter against Odisha.
'People should realise he is an impact player, like Virender Sehwag.' 'You don't expect these players to score a 70-80 every time they bat, but whenever they score they will win matches for your team.'
'He was a cricketer who come once in a lifetime...'
Shib Shankar Paul took six wickets for Bengal to skittle out Delhi for 148 in the first innings
Skipper Shikhar Dhawan led from the front, scoring his 15th first-class century before young Unmukt Chand hit a composed unbeaten 134 to help Delhi finish the opening day at 287 for one against Tamil Nadu in their Ranji Trophy Group B match in Delhi.
Baroda batsmen, led by skipper Ambati Rayudu, showed a lot of application as they posted a commendable 525 for seven against hosts Delhi at stumps on the second day of their third round Ranji Trophy Group B encounter in New Delhi.
Former India pace bowler David Johnson, who played two Tests in 1996, passed away in Bengaluru on Thursday.
The Delhi skipper rallied his team from 37 for 4 to 274 for 7 at close on day one of the Ranji Trophy match against Punjab.
Delhi dismissed Andhra Pradesh for 209 to gain a massive 146-run first innings lead on the penultimate day of the four-day Elite Group A Ranji Trophy match.
Four players will miss the Ranji Trophy match against Andhra after they were picked to play for India 'A'.
Virat Kohli showed great strength of character as he played a vital innings of 90 just hours after his father's demise against Karnataka.
Mayank Tehlan slammed a maiden double hundred, as hosts Delhi put Baroda on the mat with a first innings lead of 249 runs on the penultimate day of the Elite Group 'A' Ranji Trophy match.
The former India opener was unbeaten on 128 as Delhi ended Day 1 of their Ranji Trophy match against Uttar Pradesh on 257 for 6.
Hosts Mumbai rode on a solid batting display following their excellent bowling stint and looked poised for an outright win against Punjab on Day 3 of their Ranji Trophy match in Mumbai on Saturday.
With four second innings wickets in hand, Delhi have a lead of 159 runs over Railways on day 3 of the Elite Ranji Trophy match.
A summary of the day's play in the Ranji Trophy matches.
Delhi stretched their lead to a massive 351 runs with six more wickets in hand against Rajasthan.
No play was possible due to bad weather on the final day of the Elite Group A Ranji Trophy clash.
Centuries from Shikhar Dhawan and Rajat Bhatia lifted Delhi to a position of strength against Tamil Nadu on the penultimate day of the Ranji Trophy Elite group match in Delhi on Saturday.
Saurashtra beat Delhi by ten wickets to claim the bonus points in their Ranji Trophy Super League division match.
Delhi and Karnataka collected a point each after overnight rain and persistent drizzle forced play to be abandoned in the Ranji Trophy Super League Group A encounter, at the M Chinnaswamy stadium, in Bangalore on Thursday.
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