Former Delhi captain, Nitish Rana, and Dhruv Shorey, who emerged as the top run-scorer for the team in the previous Ranji Trophy season, have formally requested No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA). The intention behind these requests is to enable the players to participate for other states in the upcoming domestic cricket season.
DDCA’s joint secretary, Rajan Manchanda, confirmed this significant development on Friday. He went on to assure that both Rana and Shorey will be engaged in thorough discussions to understand the rationale behind their decisions.
“Yes, it has been brought to our attention that Dhruv Shorey and Nitish Rana are inclined to part ways with Delhi and have formally requested NOCs,” Manchanda conveyed to PTI. “While we certainly hope that both these experienced players will choose to stay, taking into account their seniority and contributions to Delhi cricket, the ultimate decision rests with them. If they decide to pursue their intention, we will certainly facilitate the issuance of the NOC.”
Despite Shorey’s commendable achievement of scoring 859 runs in the previous Ranji season, Delhi failed to secure a spot in the Ranji quarterfinals. His performance placed him fourth in the hierarchy of top run-getters, trailing Mayank Agarwal (990), Arpit Vasavada (907), and Anushtup Majumdar (867).
When questioned about whether Rana and Shorey would receive an opportunity to express their grievances, Manchanda responded, “Discussions pertaining to selection matters are beyond our scope. The selection committee holds the authority in this domain.”
As for the leadership of the team, it is anticipated that Himmat Singh, a middle-order batsman, will assume the role of captaincy. In a related development, Abhay Sharma’s continuation as the head coach is uncertain at this point.
Nitish Rana and Dhruv Shorey trying to secure NOCs from DDCA, will allow them to play for other states in the upcoming domestic season. This raises a question about the way players are being treated by the board, or it can be a personal choice. While DDCA remains keen on retaining these valuable assets, they acknowledge the players’ autonomy in making their choices.
