Cracks become wider, Sanghvi returns

The left-arm spinner leaves team midway, accuses coach Chauhan of arbitrary decisions

The cracks that were evident at the beginning of the season became wider just hours after Delhi8217;s humiliating defeat to Saurashtra. And they opened up further for everyone to see as the team, minus Rahul Sanghvi, arrived in Hyderabad en route to Vijayawada, where they will take on Andhra from January 2.

Sanghvi left the team mid-way through their Ranji campaign and arrived here today. A distraught Sangvi, speaking to The Indian Express, accused coach Chetan Chauhan of certain decisions that belittled him and made him feel unwanted. He also squarely blamed Delhi8217;s defeat, which squashed their chance of reaching the top two spots, on Chauhan.

The former India left-arm spinner was originally to travel to Vijayawada along with the team. Instead, he packed his bags and returned to Delhi.

8220;I walked off from the team because it was all getting too much for me. The wicket in Rajkot against Saurashtra was a turner. Instead of playing at least two spinners, the coach preferred three seamers. I know the coach didn8217;t want me but I stuck with the team only because of other seniors in the team who wanted me with them so that we can together take our team to the semi-finals,8221; Sanghvi explained.

8220;When you play as a team, you don8217;t see individual preferences but view the big picture and think of Delhi. But on a wicket like Rajkot, the coach, who makes all the decisions, overlooked me and Chetanya Nanda for strange reasons. Also with this defeat, we have exhausted all hopes of qualifying for the semis. So let the coach try out some youngsters that he has in mind and prove his point,8221; he said.

Sanghvi, however, was in no mood to call it quits yet. He believes that he still has at least two years of cricket left in him. 8220;Maybe, after this season, they will understand what I am trying to say and why I left the team midway. I have informed the selectors of my decision so that they can name a replacement if they want to,8221; he added.

Chairman of selectors Atul Wassan admitted that Sanghvi has informed him about his return and said the selectors will meet soon to name a replacement.

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8220;We will definitely send a replacement and hopefully it will be by tomorrow. However, we will ask and conduct a hearing into the circumstances that led Sanghvi to leave the team. If we finding anything amiss, we will seek appropriate action,8221; he concluded.