Delhi have named Nitish Rana as captain for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025, marking his return to the side after shifting back from Uttar Pradesh earlier this year. The domestic T20 tournament begins on November 26, with all Group D matches scheduled to be played in Ahmedabad.
Rana Back at the Helm After Missing Ranji Trophy Selection
Rana’s appointment signals a significant leadership shift, especially considering his absence from Delhi’s Ranji Trophy squad earlier in the season. Delhi have endured a mixed first-class campaign, struggling for victories and currently sitting sixth in Elite Group D with eight points from five matches under a split captaincy between Ayush Badoni and Yash Dhull.
The 2017–18 SMAT champions now look to Rana to spark a revival in the shortest format. His return also aligns with his recent homecoming to Delhi Capitals, who reacquired him from Rajasthan Royals ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.
No Spot for Digvesh Rathi; Pace Trio Availability Uncertain
Leg-spinner Digvesh Rathi has been left out of Delhi’s 23-man squad for reasons yet to be clarified, raising questions about whether his omission is form- or fitness-related.
The DDCA also announced that senior pacer Ishant Sharma, along with Harshit Rana and Navdeep Saini, may join the squad later depending on their injury status and availability.
Delhi Placed in Tough Group D
Under the guidance of head coach and former India off-spinner Sarandeep Singh, Delhi will compete in one of the toughest pools of the tournament. Group D includes heavyweights like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Saurashtra, as well as Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, and Tripura.
Delhi Squad for SMAT 2025
Nitish Rana (C), Priyansh Arya, Sarthak Ranjan, Ayush Badoni, Arpit Rana, Ayush Doseja, Mayank Rawat, Tejasvi (WK), Anuj Rawat (WK), Himmat Singh, Yash Dhull, Simarjeet Singh, Rahul Dagar, Yash Bhatia, Ankit Rajesh Kumar, Harsh Tyagi, Suyash Sharma, Prince Yadav, Money Grewal, Rohan Rana, Dhruv Kaushik, Aryan Rana, Vaibhav Kandpal.
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