Following their startling loss to Jammu & Kashmir, their first-ever loss to the team in the tournament’s 65-year history, Madan Lal, a former all-rounder for India and 1983 World Cup winner, has stepped up to support the struggling Delhi Ranji Trophy squad. The 72-year-old, who spent 18 seasons playing for Delhi, voiced dissatisfaction with the team’s current situation and volunteered to assist in getting it back on track.
Jammu & Kashmir made history on Tuesday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium when they defeated Delhi by seven wickets in an Elite Group D match. The defeat followed three draws, a string of lacklustre performances, and a litany of internal problems that have plagued the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) for many years.
Madan Lal, a vocal opponent of Delhi’s cricket administration, vented his annoyance on the social media site X.
“If Delhi cricket requires my assistance. For Delhi, I will gladly do it. For 18 seasons, I played for Delhi. I don’t think they’ll go down,” he wrote.
If Delhi cricket need my help . I will be happy to do it for Delhi. I played for Delhi 18 seasons.I can’t see them going down.
— Madan Lal (@MadanLal1983) November 12, 2025
In Group D, Delhi came in sixth.
The defeat by Jammu & Kashmir revealed issues with Delhi’s performance and strategy. After Ayush Badoni and Ayush Doseja scored fifty runs each, Delhi was bowled out for 211 in the first innings. Auqib Nabi then swept through the lineup with figures of five for thirty-five. With 310 runs in response, led by skipper Paras Dogra’s 106 and Abdul Samad’s 85, J&K took a 99-run lead.
Despite Simarjeet Singh taking five wickets, Delhi’s second innings proceeded according to a pattern. Vanshaj Sharma took 6 for 68 as they fell to 277 all out, despite being 244/3 at one point. After chasing 179, J&K opener Qamran Iqbal led his team to a historic victory with a game-winning 133 not out off 147 balls.
After the loss, Delhi is now in sixth place in Group D, only ahead of Himachal Pradesh and Puducherry. Sarandeep Singh’s continued tenure as head coach has been questioned by many due to his subpar performance. Madan’s first-class record stands at 10,204 runs and 625 wickets.
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