As the domestic cricket season looms, the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) has laid out its blueprint for success, announcing a mix of steadfast retentions and intriguing new appointments across its coaching and selection panels. This organizational reshuffle aims to ignite fresh impetus while maintaining a degree of continuity, particularly for a cricketing entity with varied fortunes in the previous season.
The Sarandeep Singh Conundrum: A Vote of Confidence Amidst Mixed Fortunes
At the helm of the Delhi senior men`s team, former India off-spinner Sarandeep Singh has been reinstated as head coach. His retention, decided by the three-member Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) of the DDCA, marks a continued trust in his leadership. Sarandeep, who donned the national colours for three Tests and five ODIs between 2000 and 2003, will once again steer the squad. He`ll be supported by a revised backroom staff including Kuldeep Rawat, V. Aravind, and Kshitiz Sharma, the latter stepping in for Bantu Singh.
One might observe this decision with a raised eyebrow, considering the senior men`s team`s performance last season. Failing to qualify for the knockout stages of both the Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy, their only notable progress was reaching the quarterfinals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. This places a considerable emphasis on Sarandeep Singh and his revamped team to engineer a significant turnaround. The message from the DDCA seems clear: the faith is placed, now deliver.
A New Dawn for Delhi Women`s Cricket: Leadership by Example
In stark contrast to the men`s team`s recent struggles, Delhi`s women`s cricket circuit is experiencing something of a renaissance. Building on a highly successful previous season—where the team reached the knockout stages in three competitions and clinched the U23 T20 Trophy—the DDCA has made impactful appointments that underscore this momentum.
Key Appointments in Women`s Cricket:
- Reema Malhotra: The former India women`s cricketer, known for her contributions in a Test, 41 ODIs, and 22 T20Is (2003-2013), ascends to the role of chairperson for the senior women`s selection committee. This move is particularly noteworthy, hinting at a potential transition for her predecessor, former India all-rounder Amita Sharma, to the national women`s selection committee.
- Deepti Dhyani: The respected coach, notably of India women`s opener Pratika Rawal, takes over as the new head coach of the Delhi senior women`s team. Her support staff includes Gautam Vadhera (batting), Ashish Malhotra (bowling), and Mandeep Kaur (fielding), forming a robust team poised to continue their winning trajectory.
These appointments reflect a strategic investment in proven talent and leadership, aiming to solidify Delhi`s position as a powerhouse in women`s domestic cricket. It`s a testament to their performance and perhaps a subtle nudge to other departments on what focused success looks like.
The Unsung Architects: Selection Panels and High Performance
Beyond the head coaches, the DDCA has meticulously assembled its selection committees and high-performance group. K.P. Bhaskar retains his position on the three-member senior men`s selection panel alongside Yashpal Sharma and Manu Nayar, ensuring a degree of consistency in talent identification. For the junior women`s selection committee, Devender Sharma, revered as the childhood coach of cricketing stalwarts Rishabh Pant and Mayank Yadav, continues his tenure, joined by chairperson Tilak Raj Sharma and Sushma Chaudhary.
In a move to refine technical skills, Bantu Singh and Gursharan Singh have been appointed as chief batting coaches for the women`s and men`s teams, respectively, within the High Performance Group. They will be assisted by Kailash Rawat and Sumit Dogra. Curiously, the mentors who were introduced with much fanfare for the Delhi state cricket teams last year are conspicuously absent from the roster for the 2025/26 season. One might speculate that their roles have either been silently absorbed, or perhaps, the DDCA concluded that true guidance emerges most effectively from within the core coaching structure.
Looking Ahead: A Season of Expectations
The DDCA`s recent announcements paint a picture of an organization striving for both stability and progress. While the men`s team faces the imperative of transforming potential into performance under retained leadership, the women`s team is set to build on a foundation of success with new, dynamic figures at the helm. The chess pieces are now in place. The upcoming domestic season will be the ultimate arbiter of whether these strategic moves will translate into the desired checkmate for Delhi cricket.
