Winning the toss is always crucial in red-ball cricket, especially in Indian domestic conditions. On January 30, 2025, at the iconic Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi’s captain Ayush Badoni made a wise decision after assessing pitch and weather conditions. Choosing to bowl first was a tactical move backed by local knowledge. The morning start at 9:30 AM in Delhi often means residual moisture on the surface and a hint of chill in the air, both of which favor fast bowlers against the Railways Cricket Team Batting Line up.
The pitch at Arun Jaitley Stadium tends to assist seam movement on Day 1 before it flattens out for the batters. By bowling first, Delhi aimed to exploit this initial window. Their bowling unit, featuring the fiery Navdeep Saini and swing-friendly Siddhant Sharma, was well-equipped to cause early damage.
This decision also put Railways under pressure immediately, forcing their top order to face challenging conditions right from the first session. Delhi’s intent was clear — pick early wickets, restrict the score, and bat when the pitch becomes easier. The toss result and decision already gave them a strategic edge.
Delhi vs Railways Ranji Trophy 2024-25 – FAQs
- What time is the Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Railways?
The match between Delhi and Railways started at 9:30 AM IST each day. It was held from January 30 to February 1, 2025, at Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi.
- Where is the Delhi vs Railways Ranji Trophy match being played?
The match occurred at the historic Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, a regular venue for Ranji Trophy games and IPL matches.
- Is the Delhi vs Railways match being live-streamed?
Yes, the Delhi vs Railways Ranji Trophy match was live-streamed on the JioCinema app and website. No TV broadcast was available, but digital access was free for Jio SIM users.
- Is there a TV channel broadcasting the match?
No, there was no TV broadcast for this specific Ranji Trophy game. However, JioCinema provided exclusive digital coverage of the match, including live coverage of Virat Kohli’s innings.
- Can I watch Virat Kohli play live in the Ranji Trophy?
Yes, fans could watch Virat Kohli live during the match via JioCinema. He featured in Delhi’s playing XI, creating massive excitement at the stadium.
- Is the Ranji Trophy a 4-day match?
Yes, the group-stage matches in the Ranji Trophy, like Delhi vs. Railways, are played over four days. As per the Ranji Trophy rules, only knockout matches are scheduled for five days.
- How much is the ticket for Delhi vs Railways Ranji Trophy match?
Most Ranji Trophy group-stage matches, including this one, are free to enter. However, seating may be limited on high-profile days (especially when stars like Kohli play).
- Which state does the Railways cricket team represent?
The Railways cricket team is not based in a specific state. It represents Indian Railways, a government organization that recruits players across India.
Arun Jaitley Stadium typically offers early movement for seamers, especially on winter mornings
Although this was a Ranji Trophy fixture, the moment Virat Kohli stepped onto the field, the Arun Jaitley Stadium buzzed with life. Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi is known for its unique pitch behavior, especially during the winter phase of the Ranji season. Located in North India, the stadium often sees foggy mornings and chilly air from late December to early February. These conditions naturally favour swing and seam bowlers in the first session. The pitch retains a thin layer of moisture due to overnight dew, and the harder new ball tends to nip around in the first 20 overs.
The soil composition here is slightly dry underneath, but the top layer on Day 1 is green enough to generate early movement. Bowlers maintaining tight lines and lengths can extract seam deviation and variable bounce. It’s common to see teams lose three to four wickets before lunch if they aren’t cautious.
Delhi’s familiarity with these pitch tendencies is a strong advantage as railways cricket team vs delhi cricket team players looked to dominate each other. Their bowlers, particularly pacers like Navdeep Saini, were likely instructed to attack the stumps early. Ayush Badoni’s wise toss decision aligned perfectly with these pitch dynamics.
Railways Cricket Team opened with Anchit Yadav and Vivek Singh under testing conditions
With Delhi opting to bowl first, Railways’ openers Anchit Yadav and Vivek Singh had a massive responsibility. They had to protect their wickets and see off the first crucial hour without losing momentum. Opening in first-class cricket is always challenging, but doing so in overcast, seaming conditions on a fresh Day 1 pitch at Arun Jaitley Stadium makes it even more demanding. The first session had all the ingredients bowlers dream of — swing, seam, freshness, and pressure as per railways cricket team vs delhi cricket team stats.
Anchit Yadav is known for his compact technique, but even the movement off the deck challenged him. Vivek Singh, a more attacking option, had to curb his instincts and focus on survival. Delhi’s bowlers came hard with tight channels, aiming for the corridor of uncertainty. Saini and Siddhant Sharma relentlessly exploited any lapse in technique or judgment.
🌤️ Pitch Report for Railways Cricket Team vs Delhi Cricket Team Match Scorecard– Arun Jaitley Stadium
-
Day 1: Movement for pacers in the first session, then flattens out.
-
Day 2: Ideal for batting; easier shot-making if wickets remain intact.
-
Day 3: Likely to assist spinners like Karn Sharma and Rahul Sharma.
The openers’ approach set the tone for the innings. Their ability to absorb pressure early on was crucial in building a foundation. Even 30–40 runs in the first session, without losing wickets, would be considered a success here.
Railways Cricket Team vs Delhi Cricket Team Match Scorecard, Elite, Group D at Delhi, Ranji Trophy, Jan 30 2025 – Full Scorecard and Analysis
Delhi won by an innings and 19 runs
Railways Cricket Team 1st Innings
| Batting | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Anchit Yadav
|
lbw b Siddhant Sharma | 7 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 77.77 | |||
|
Vivek Singh
|
b Saini | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | |||
|
Suraj Ahuja (c)
|
c Shivam Sharma b Siddhant Sharma | 14 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 100.00 | |||
|
Mohammad Saif
|
c †Rajvanshi b Grewal | 24 | 54 | 4 | 0 | 44.44 | |||
|
Upendra Yadav †
|
c Shivam Sharma b Sumit Mathur | 95 | 177 | 10 | 1 | 53.67 | |||
|
Bhargav Merai
|
lbw b Grewal | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | |||
|
Karn Sharma
|
c Dhull b Saini | 50 | 105 | 7 | 1 | 47.61 | |||
|
Ayan Chaudhari
|
c Dhull b Saini | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | |||
|
Himanshu Sangwan
|
c Dhull b Sumit Mathur | 29 | 28 | 2 | 3 | 103.57 | |||
|
Rahul Sharma
|
b Sumit Mathur | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | |||
|
Kunal Yadav
|
not out | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 | |||
| Extras | (b 12, lb 4, nb 5) | 21 | |||||||
| Total |
67.4 Ov (RR: 3.56)
|
241 | |||||||
|
Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Anchit Yadav, 1.3 ov), 2-21 (Suraj Ahuja, 5.6 ov), 3-21 (Vivek Singh, 6.1 ov), 4-66 (Mohammad Saif, 19.3 ov), 5-66 (Bhargav Merai, 19.4 ov), 6-170 (Karn Sharma, 52.4 ov), 7-170 (Ayan Chaudhari, 52.5 ov), 8-229 (Upendra Yadav, 65.2 ov), 9-240 (Himanshu Sangwan, 67.1 ov), 10-241 (Rahul Sharma, 67.4 ov)
|
|||||||||
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | ECON | WD | NB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Navdeep Saini
|
18 | 2 | 62 | 3 | 3.44 | 0 | 0 |
|
Siddhant Sharma
|
9 | 1 | 35 | 2 | 3.88 | 0 | 0 |
|
Money Grewal
|
17 | 1 | 49 | 2 | 2.88 | 0 | 5 |
|
Shivam Sharma
|
10 | 1 | 45 | 0 | 4.50 | 0 | 0 |
|
Ayush Badoni
|
3 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 4.66 | 0 | 0 |
|
Sumit Mathur
|
10.4 | 2 | 20 | 3 | 1.87 | 0 | 0 |
Delhi Cricket Team 1st Innings
| Batting | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Arpit Rana
|
c †UD Yadav b Kunal Yadav | 10 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 111.11 | |||
|
Sanat Sangwan
|
b Sangwan | 30 | 81 | 4 | 0 | 37.03 | |||
|
Yash Dhull
|
lbw b RA Sharma | 32 | 69 | 7 | 0 | 46.37 | |||
|
Virat Kohli
|
b Sangwan | 6 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 40.00 | |||
|
Ayush Badoni (c)
|
c Kunal Yadav b KV Sharma | 99 | 77 | 12 | 3 | 128.57 | |||
|
Sumit Mathur
|
lbw b Sangwan | 86 | 206 | 8 | 0 | 41.74 | |||
|
Pranav Rajvanshi †
|
b Chaudhari | 39 | 90 | 7 | 0 | 43.33 | |||
|
Shivam Sharma
|
c †UD Yadav b Kunal Yadav | 14 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 60.86 | |||
|
Siddhant Sharma
|
c Vivek Singh b Kunal Yadav | 18 | 40 | 2 | 0 | 45.00 | |||
|
Navdeep Saini
|
not out | 20 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 90.90 | |||
|
Money Grewal
|
b Sangwan | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | |||
| Extras | (lb 15, nb 5) | 20 | |||||||
| Total |
106.4 Ov (RR: 3.50)
|
374 | |||||||
|
Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Arpit Rana, 1.6 ov), 2-78 (Yash Dhull, 23.5 ov), 3-86 (Virat Kohli, 27.4 ov), 4-97 (Sanat Sangwan, 29.1 ov), 5-230 (Ayush Badoni, 55.3 ov), 6-293 (Pranav Rajvanshi, 80.4 ov), 7-310 (Shivam Sharma, 87.5 ov), 8-348 (Siddhant Sharma, 99.6 ov), 9-358 (Sumit Mathur, 102.3 ov), 10-374 (Money Grewal, 106.4 ov)
|
|||||||||
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | ECON | WD | NB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Himanshu Sangwan
|
25.4 | 9 | 55 | 4 | 2.14 | 0 | 0 |
|
Kunal Yadav
|
29 | 5 | 104 | 3 | 3.58 | 0 | 1 |
|
Rahul Sharma
|
17 | 1 | 69 | 1 | 4.05 | 0 | 4 |
|
Ayan Chaudhari
|
15 | 2 | 64 | 1 | 4.26 | 0 | 0 |
|
Karn Sharma
|
14 | 2 | 53 | 1 | 3.78 | 0 | 0 |
|
Mohammad Saif
|
6 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 2.33 | 0 | 0 |
Railways Cricket Team 2nd Innings
| Batting | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Suraj Ahuja (c)
|
lbw b Siddhant Sharma | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 12.50 | |||
|
Vivek Singh
|
c Sumit Mathur b Shivam Sharma | 12 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 50.00 | |||
|
Mohammad Saif
|
c Saini b Shivam Sharma | 31 | 31 | 6 | 0 | 100.00 | |||
|
Upendra Yadav †
|
lbw b Grewal | 19 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 86.36 | |||
|
Bhargav Merai
|
b Saini | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 | |||
|
Karn Sharma
|
lbw b Shivam Sharma | 16 | 32 | 2 | 0 | 50.00 | |||
|
Ayan Chaudhari
|
not out | 30 | 30 | 5 | 0 | 100.00 | |||
|
Himanshu Sangwan
|
b Shivam Sharma | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 12.50 | |||
|
Rahul Sharma
|
c Sumit Mathur b Shivam Sharma | 3 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 15.78 | |||
|
Kunal Yadav
|
c Grewal b Badoni | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | |||
|
Anchit Yadav
|
absent hurt | – | – | – | – | – | |||
| Extras | 0 | ||||||||
| Total |
30.5 Ov (RR: 3.69)
|
114 | |||||||
|
Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Suraj Ahuja, 1.6 ov), 2-31 (Vivek Singh, 8.1 ov), 3-56 (Mohammad Saif, 12.2 ov), 4-57 (Bhargav Merai, 13.2 ov), 5-76 (Upendra Yadav, 19.3 ov), 6-80 (Karn Sharma, 20.5 ov), 7-82 (Himanshu Sangwan, 22.4 ov), 8-100 (Rahul Sharma, 28.2 ov), 9-114 (Kunal Yadav, 30.5 ov)
|
|||||||||
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | ECON | WD | NB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Navdeep Saini
|
6 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 3.00 | 0 | 0 |
|
Siddhant Sharma
|
4 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 5.25 | 0 | 0 |
|
Money Grewal
|
5 | 1 | 20 | 1 | 4.00 | 0 | 0 |
|
Shivam Sharma
|
11 | 4 | 33 | 5 | 3.00 | 0 | 0 |
|
Sumit Mathur
|
4 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 4.25 | 0 | 0 |
|
Ayush Badoni
|
0.5 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 6.00 | 0 | 0 |
Match Analysis – Delhi’s pace attack, led by Navdeep Saini, aimed to strike with the new ball
Navdeep Saini, Delhi’s premier pacer, entered this match as a potential game-changer. With the Ranji Trophy being a platform for national comebacks, Saini had a point to prove. Armed with pace, bounce, and experience, he opened the bowling on a pitch with just enough grass and winter moisture to support seamers. His strategy was simple — bowl full, fast, and in the channel just outside off-stump.
Partnered by Siddhant Sharma, another capable pacer with natural seam movement, Delhi’s pace duo began with purpose. They used the brand-new red SG ball to extract early swing and uneven bounce, especially from the Pavilion End. The new ball skidded and zipped through — testing the Railways’ openers consistently. Field placements included three slips and a gully, signaling Delhi’s aggressive intent.
Saini’s rhythm looked sharp. His pace was consistently above 135 kmph, and he beat the bat multiple times. This early spell was crucial. Delhi wanted a couple of early wickets to expose Railways’ middle order, and Saini was central to that plan.
Suraj Ahuja and Upendra Yadav held the Railways Cricket Team innings together under pressure
After the early movement caused trouble for the railway openers, it was up to the experienced middle order to provide some stability. Captain Suraj Ahuja and wicketkeeper-batsman Upendra Yadav stepped up to rebuild the innings. Coming in when wickets were falling, or the bowlers were dominating, both batters showed remarkable composure and technique against a quality Delhi attack.
Ahuja, known for his temperament in first-class cricket, took time to get set. He left deliveries outside the off-stump and punished anything on his pads. His leadership was evident in his rotating strikes and communication with his partner. Upendra Yadav, on the other hand, played the perfect foil. His compact style and calm presence made it difficult for bowlers to create pressure from both ends.
Together, they absorbed the testing spells from Navdeep Saini and Siddhant Sharma. Their partnership not only added runs but also frustrated Delhi’s bowlers, forcing them to change tactics. This rebuilding phase was crucial in preventing a complete collapse. It provided Railways the breathing space they desperately needed in that tricky morning session.
Delhi’s fielding remained sharp with energy and intensity during the crucial first session.
Fielding can play a significant role in shifting momentum in red-ball cricket, especially in early morning sessions. Delhi understood this perfectly. After choosing to bowl first on a helpful surface, they backed their decision with electric fielding. The slip cordon—featuring experienced players like Virat Kohli and Ayush Badoni—was alert from ball one. Every edge that flew past the bat created tension, and Delhi’s close-in fielders responded with sharp reflexes and vocal intensity.
The energy on the field was infectious. Whether chasing a single to the boundary or saving crucial twos in the outfield, Delhi looked switched on. Pranav Rajuvanshi, the wicketkeeper, was quick behind the stumps, collecting balls cleanly and not letting anything pass. His glovework added pressure on Railways batters trying to rotate strike.
This intensity showed Delhi’s intent to dominate early and force mistakes through pressure. Even half-chances were attempted with full commitment. A dropped catch or lazy dive could have cost them, but Delhi ensured their fielding effort matched their bowlers’ discipline. Such collective energy often wins sessions, especially in longer formats like the Ranji Trophy.
Virat Kohli’s presence boosted Delhi’s morale and brought crowd attention early.
Although this was a Ranji Trophy fixture, the moment Virat Kohli stepped onto the field, the Arun Jaitley Stadium buzzed with life. His presence is magnetic—whether he’s batting, fielding in the slips, or simply encouraging teammates. Returning to the domestic scene, Kohli added more than just experience to Delhi’s lineup. His energy, intent, and passion for the game, especially younger players, lifted the team’s morale.
Fans started filling up the stands early in anticipation of watching Kohli live. Even though he wasn’t batting yet, a cheer followed every time he moved or shouted encouragement. This created an electric atmosphere for a domestic game, giving Delhi a psychological edge. It also made the opposition feel the pressure, knowing a global superstar was present and locked in.
Kohli was vocal and supportive on the field—clapping for every dot ball, guiding younger bowlers like Money Grewal, and setting aggressive fields. His body language signalled hunger and focus. For a team like Delhi, having a legend like Kohli in the XI is more than tactical—it’s a mindset advantage.
Railways Cricket Team vs Delhi Cricket Team Match Scorecard: Ranji Trophy Elite 2024-25 – Elite Group D
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Railways (RLYS) vs Delhi (DEL) |
| Group | Elite Group D |
| Tournament | Ranji Trophy Elite 2024-25 |
| Dates | January 30, 2025 – February 1, 2025 |
| Time | 9:30 AM IST |
| Venue | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| Toss | Delhi won the toss and opted to bowl |
| Umpires | A Nanda Kishore, Vinod Seshan |
| Match Referee | Balachandra Akhil |
🛡️ Railways Squad
| Playing XI | Bench |
|---|---|
| Anchit Yadav | Pratham Singh |
| Vivek Singh | Purnank Tyagi |
| Suraj Ahuja (c) | Shivam Chaudhary |
| Upendra Yadav (wk) | Ashutosh Sharma |
| Mohammad Saif | Yuvraj Singh |
| Bhargav Merai | Akash Pandey |
| Karn Sharma | Adarsh Singh |
| Rahul Sharma | Rajat Nirwal |
| Himanshu Sangwan | |
| Ayan Chaudhari | |
| Kunal Yadav |
🛡️ Delhi Squad
| Playing XI | Bench |
|---|---|
| Arpit Rana | Vansh Bedi |
| Sanat Sangwan | Mayank Gusain |
| Virat Kohli | Harsh Tyagi |
| Yash Dhull | Jitesh Singh |
| Ayush Badoni (c) | Gagan Vats |
| Pranav Rajuvanshi (wk) | Jonty Sidhu |
| Sumit Mathur | Himmat Singh |
| Shivam Sharma | Vaibhav Kandpal |
| Navdeep Saini | Rahul Gahlot |
| Money Grewal | |
| Siddhant Sharma |
🏟️ Venue Guide: Arun Jaitley Stadium
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| City | Delhi |
| Capacity | 48,000 |
| Ends | Stadium End, Pavilion End |
| Home Teams | Delhi, Delhi Capitals at Arun Jaitley Stadium |
🏏 Match Summary: RLYS vs DEL – Ranji Trophy 2024-25
📅 Date:
January 30 – February 1, 2025
📍 Venue:
Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Capacity: 48,000 | Ends: Pavilion End & Stadium End
🧾 Toss:
Delhi won the toss and opted to bowl first.
🕘 Start Time:
🔍 Day 1 Highlights & Analysis:
-
Delhi’s smart decision to bowl first paid off, as early morning conditions helped their seamers extract swing and movement off the pitch.
-
Navdeep Saini and Siddhant Sharma bowled with pace and discipline, troubling Railways’ top order with consistent line and length.
-
Railways showed resilience through a gritty middle-order partnership between Suraj Ahuja (c) and Upendra Yadav (wk), who absorbed pressure and rotated the strike effectively.
-
Delhi’s fielding was top-notch, with Virat Kohli and Ayush Badoni creating energy in the slips and sharp work from wicketkeeper Pranav Rajuvanshi.
-
Virat Kohli’s return to domestic cricket drew crowd attention and boosted Delhi’s morale, creating a charged atmosphere despite being a red-ball game.
-
Pitch evolution played a role—starting with seam and bounce but flattening as the sun rose, allowing Railways to recover and rebuild.
🧑🤝🧑 Squads in Focus:
-
Delhi: Ayush Badoni (c), Virat Kohli, Yash Dhull, Navdeep Saini, Sanat Sangwan, Shivam Sharma, Siddhant Sharma, and others.
-
Railways: Suraj Ahuja (c), Upendra Yadav (wk), Anchit Yadav, Vivek Singh, Mohammad Saif, and others.
🔍 Player-Wise Performance Preview & Projected Impact – Railways Cricket Team vs Delhi Cricket Team
🟩 Railways (RLYS) Key Players
| Player | Role | Performance Preview |
|---|---|---|
| Suraj Ahuja (c) | Middle-order bat | Calm leadership; strong defense against pace. Needs to anchor innings. |
| Upendra Yadav (wk) | Keeper-batter | Gritty and technically solid; can guide lower order with 50+ knock. |
| Anchit Yadav | Opener | Will need to improve against Delhi’s new ball burst. Risk of early wicket. |
| Karn Sharma | All-rounder (spin) | Experienced; key on Day 3 as pitch wears. Could bag crucial wickets. |
| Ayan Chaudhari | Pacer | Will be tested by Delhi’s strong batting unit; control is key. |
| Rahul Sharma | Spinner | Might play a holding role if pitch gets dry by Day 2–3. |
🟥 Delhi (DEL) Key Players
| Player | Role | Performance Preview |
|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | Top-order bat | Big return to Ranji; expected to stabilize innings, fans’ focus. |
| Ayush Badoni (c) | Middle-order bat | Innovative stroke play; can accelerate or rebuild as needed. |
| Yash Dhull | Top-order bat | Reliable under pressure; strong technique against both pace and spin. |
| Navdeep Saini | Fast Bowler | Lethal with new ball; already created impact early. 3+ wicket threat. |
| Siddhant Sharma | Medium pacer | Controlled aggression; keeps pressure from one end. Great support bowler. |
| Pranav Rajuvanshi (wk) | Keeper-batter | Agile behind stumps must contribute with quick 30–40 runs too. |
Key Moments: Delhi vs Railways – Ranji Trophy 2024-25
| Day | Session/Event | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Railways 1st Innings Start | – |
| Drinks (13.0 overs) | 40/3 – Mohammad Saif 8*, Upendra Yadav 10* | |
| 50 Runs | In 14.6 overs (Extras: 5) | |
| Lunch (27.0 overs) | 87/5 – Upendra Yadav 27*, Karn Sharma 2* | |
| 100 Runs | In 31.2 overs (Extras: 13) | |
| Drinks (43.0 overs) | 133/5 – Upendra Yadav 46*, Karn Sharma 27* | |
| Upendra Yadav 50 | Off 101 balls (4×4, 1×6) | |
| 150 Runs | In 47.3 overs (Extras: 15) | |
| Karn Sharma 50 | Off 104 balls (7×4, 1×6) | |
| Tea (54.0 overs) | 182/7 – Upendra Yadav 68*, Himanshu Sangwan 2* | |
| 200 Runs | In 60.5 overs (Extras: 17) | |
| Drinks (67.0 overs) | 240/8 – Himanshu Sangwan 29*, Rahul Sharma 0* | |
| Innings End (67.4 overs) | All Out for 241 – Kunal Yadav 1 | |
| Delhi 1st Innings Start | – | |
| End of Day (10.0 overs) | 41/1 – Sanat Sangwan 9*, Yash Dhull 17* | |
| Day 2 | Delhi 50 Runs | In 14.5 overs (Extras: 6) |
| Drinks (27.0 overs) | 82/2 – Sanat Sangwan 29*, Virat Kohli 2* | |
| 100 Runs | In 29.3 overs (Extras: 9) | |
| 150 Runs | In 37.2 overs (Extras: 10) | |
| Ayush Badoni 50 | Off 34 balls (7×4, 1×6) | |
| Lunch (42.0 overs) | 168/4 – Ayush Badoni 52*, Sumit Mathur 28* | |
| 200 Runs | In 49.3 overs (Extras: 10) | |
| Drinks (55.3 overs) | 230/5 – Sumit Mathur 43* | |
| 250 Runs | In 65.4 overs (Extras: 10) | |
| Sumit Mathur 50 | Off 117 balls (6×4) | |
| Tea (71.0 overs) | 272/5 – Sumit Mathur 57*, Pranav Rajvanshi 28* | |
| 300 Runs | In 83.0 overs (Extras: 10) | |
| Second New Ball Taken | At 83.3 overs | |
| Drinks (87.5 overs) | 310/7 – Sumit Mathur 70* | |
| Bad Light (96.0 overs) | 334/7 – Sumit Mathur 78*, Siddhant Sharma 15* | |
| End of Day (96.0 overs) | 334/7 – Sumit Mathur 78*, Siddhant Sharma 15* |
Arun Jaitley Stadium offered early seam but settled into an accurate surface by lunch
The pitch at Arun Jaitley Stadium followed a classic winter red-ball pattern—lively in the first session, then easing out. When the game began at 9:30 AM, the surface had just enough green and moisture to encourage seam movement. Delhi’s pacers, especially Navdeep Saini and Siddhant Sharma, extracted a decent nip off the deck. The ball carried well to the keeper, and edges flew in the slips early on.
However, the surface slowly settled as the sun climbed, and the pitch began to bake under the clear Delhi sky. By the second hour, the lateral movement had reduced. Batters like Suraj Ahuja and Upendra Yadav started to to trust the bounce and played their shots more confidently. Timing improved, and run-scoring became less risky.
This transition from a spicy morning track to a true batting surface is typical of North Indian grounds in January. It meant the toss became even more crucial. Delhi had rightly opted to bowl first and was looking to use that early help. But Railways, by surviving the testing phase, gave themselves a chance to build a competitive score once conditions eased.
