Fri Jan 31 02:48:46 IST 2025: ## Delhi Stumble Against Railways in Ranji Trophy Opener

**New Delhi** – Day one of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group D clash between Delhi and Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium saw a fluctuating contest, with Railways posting a challenging 241 after being reduced to 87/5 early on. Delhi ended the day at 41/1 in reply.

Delhi captain Ayush Badoni won the toss and opted to field, a decision that initially paid dividends as Delhi’s pacers quickly dismantled the Railways top order. Anchit Yadav, Vivek Singh, and Suraj Ahuja fell cheaply, leaving Railways reeling at 21/3.

However, a 45-run partnership between Mohammad Saif (24) and Upendra Yadav steadied the innings. Upendra Yadav played a crucial knock, scoring a gritty 95 before falling just five runs short of a century. His 177-ball innings was the cornerstone of Railways’ recovery. He found valuable support in Karn Sharma (50) as the pair added over 104 runs for the sixth wicket. Late wickets from Navdeep Saini hampered Railways’ progress.

Despite Yadav’s valiant effort, Railways’ tail collapsed after his dismissal, leaving them with a total of 241.

In reply, Delhi lost opener Arpit Rana early. However, Yash Dhull and Sanat Sangwan steadied the ship, guiding Delhi to 41/1 at the close of play, still trailing by 200 runs. The match, crucial for both teams’ playoff hopes, continues tomorrow. The match is being televised on Sports 18 and streamed on Jio Cinema. Notable for Delhi was the appearance of Virat Kohli, playing his first Ranji Trophy match since 2012.

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