Kashmir, November 8, 2025 – In a thrilling opening day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group D match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi’s pacer Simarjeet Singh delivered a devastating opening spell, reducing Jammu and Kashmir to 31 for 3 and putting the visitors firmly on the back foot. This fiery response came after J&K’s Aqib Nabi starred with a five-wicket haul, bundling out the hosts for a modest 211 earlier in the day.The match, played under partly cloudy skies at the historic Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, swung dramatically in favor of Delhi during the final session. Despite a below-par batting performance where eight Delhi batters managed just 20 runs combined, Simarjeet’s triple strike in his first six overs—finishing with figures of 3/14—revived the home team’s hopes. With the new ball still gleaming and exploiting the underlying winter moisture typical of the venue, Simarjeet dismissed key J&K openers Shubham Khajuria (4), Qamran Iqbal (14), and nightwatchman Sunil Kumar (1), leaving the tourists trailing by 180 runs at stumps.”I just focused on the basics—seam position and varying the length,” Simarjeet said post-play. “The pitch offered a bit of help early on, and we knew we had to strike quickly with the new ball.” Fellow pacer Money Grewal supported with a tight spell of 0/12 from five overs, setting the tone for Delhi’s bowling attack.Earlier, J&K’s bowling spearhead Aqib Nabi produced a masterclass in swing bowling, claiming 5/35 to dismantle Delhi’s innings.
The 27-year-old from Baramulla, who has now taken 24 wickets in just four matches this season, reduced the hosts to 14/3 inside the first hour. His late burst, featuring reverse swing that bamboozled the lower order, sealed Delhi’s fate. Nabi’s victims included opener Arpit Rana (0), Anuj Rawat (0), Hrithik Shokeen (7), Manan Bhardwaj (0), and Money Grewal (0).Delhi’s middle order fought back valiantly, with skipper Ayush Badoni (64), Ayush Doseja (65), and the unbeaten Sumit Mathur (55) forging crucial partnerships to push the total past 200. Badoni and Doseja’s 104-run stand for the fourth wicket provided stability after the top-order collapse, but Nabi’s guile proved too much in the end. “Aqib’s ability to swing it both ways is special; he’s a real asset for us,” J&K captain Suryansh Raina noted, though his team now faces an uphill battle on day two.
Brief Scores:
Delhi 1st Innings: 211 all out in 69 overs (Ayush Doseja 65, Ayush Badoni 64, Sumit Mathur 55*; Aqib Nabi 5/35, Abdul Samad 1/20)
Jammu & Kashmir 1st Innings: 31/3 in 13 overs (Qamran Iqbal 14; Simarjeet Singh 3/14) Delhi lead by 180 runs. The second day promises intrigue, with J&K’s experienced batter Vivrant Sharma (10*) and Paras Dogra (2*) at the crease. If Simarjeet and Grewal maintain their rhythm, Delhi could enforce the follow-on. For J&K, a solid partnership from the overnight duo will be key to clawing back into the contest. This Group D clash underscores the Ranji Trophy’s unpredictability, where individual brilliance can tilt the scales.
Key Highlights
- Aqib Nabi’s Fifer: Third five-wicket haul of the season; reverse swing dismantles Delhi’s tail.
- Delhi’s Batting Woes: Top order crumbles to 14/3; middle-order rescues prevent total collapse.
- Simarjeet’s Riposte: Opening burst of 3/14 leaves J&K reeling; targets set for day two exploitation.
