It seems controversy just refuses to stay away from the Delhi Ranji Trophy team. Even as Gautam Gambhir’s men begin their campaign against Rajasthan on Thursday, the absence of newly-appointed coach Ajay Jadeja has created uncertainty within the ranks.
It is learnt that Jadeja had left the team nets in Delhi on Monday when Amit Bhandari took over as the assistant coach. The official reason given was that Jadeja’s son was not keeping well. “He left the team saying his son got hurt in school and didn’t get back. There is uncertainty in the team as well,” said a source close to the Delhi team.
However, according to top DDCA officials, Jadeja is not pleased with the appointment of Bhandari. “He has told some of the DDCA officials that he is not sure why Bhandari is with the team. Jadeja feels that Delhi have a new team and the youngsters would need one man talking to them and two coaches will create confusion,” a DDCA official told TOI.
Jadeja’s recruitment was done in emergent circumstances and has led to divisions in the DDCA with its sports committee questioning the appointment.
There are murmurs in the association that if Jadeja doesn’t come clean on the issue, he might well be removed. If that’s the case, Vijay Dahiya, who coached the team last year and has the backing of the sports committee, can be back.
DELHI POLICE PROBES AGE-GROUP CRICKET
Meanwhile, in further embarrassment to DDCA, a miscommunication between the BCCI and the body has resulted in 22 young cricketers being stranded.
Former India and Delhi player Kirti Azad had lodged a complaint with a local police station and subsequently an FIR was filed. It is learnt that DDCA vice-president Chetan Chauhan himself had asked for a clarification from the board if the players could be selected. BCCI’s game development manager Ratnakar Shetty, in return, asked DDCA to hold these players back on Wednesday.
The list includes Nitish Rana, who is currently with the Ranji team and still claims to be under 23, and Pratyush Singh, who represented the senior side in domestic T20s last season.