Jharkhand and Delhi eye a spruce-up after middling start to the season

Like many of the newer cricket stadiums in India, the JSCA International Stadium Complex, on the outskirts of Ranchi, bears a state-of-the-art look. The stands are spick and span, the outfield is lush green, and the north pavilion, whose walls are adorned with photos of greats like Sir Don Bradman, Sir Garry Sobers, Sir Viv Richards and the city’s very own M.S. Dhoni (the south pavilion at the ground is named after him), has first-rate amenities for its members.

When the swanky venue, which has hosted international cricket since 2013, stages the Ranji Trophy encounter between Jharkhand and Delhi from Sunday, both teams will eye a spruce-up to make up for their middling starts.

While the host is fifth in Group C with four points from two matches, Ayush Badoni & Co., languishing at sixth, have three points in their kitty.

At home in the previous round, Delhi had to bust a gut in the pursuit of a first-innings lead in a high-scoring draw against Gujarat. After amassing 648 for six declared, the seven-time champion toiled for 174.1 overs on a flat deck to restrict the opponent to 479.

With the bowling unit likely to be a tad jaded in the aftermath, Delhi has made a few tweaks to the squad for this away outing. Pacer Navdeep Saini, who played the first two games without eye-catching returns, has been rested while uncapped left-arm spinner Aman Chaudhary has been drafted in.

Jharkhand will have to make at least one change not of its own will. It has been forced upon Virat Singh’s team by the promotion of in-form opener Shikhar Mohan to the India-A squad for the ongoing tour of New Zealand.

The 21-year-old left-hand batter peeled off a couple of centuries in Jharkhand’s first two Ranji games, and has been duly rewarded in recognition of his good form stretching back to last season.