Chopra out of Ranji tie versus Maharashtra

Aakash Chopra pulled out of the squad for Delhis Ranji Trophy clash against Maharashtra late on Monday evening,citing ill health. Rahul Yadav was drafted in as a replacement.

The former India opener was replaced as captain in the run up to this clash,with Virat Kohli who led in the win against Saurashtra handed the job despite Chopras return from an injury that had kept him out of the last game.

While intrigue was the buzzword around the Delhi camp ahead of Tuesdays clash,for Maharashtra it mustve been desperation. Crouching low at the centre of the pitch at the Roshanara Club ground,their captain Harshad Khadiwale had a quizzical look on his face.

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While slow,flat tracks have become the trend in the country,the ground on the outskirts of the Capital has a Bohemian feel to it. At first look from the peripheral ropes,the green wicket mingles into the rest of the field as one large circular disc. Only on closer inspection does the brown layer,beneath a carpet of live grass,reveal the 22-yard strip.

Reeling at the bottom of the points table with four points in as many games,and with a team relying heavily on batting,20-year-old Khadiwale the youngest leader in this Ranji season has his task cut out. Our main aim is to avoid being relegated. We havent played on a pitch this green so far this season. Both our games against Delhi and Baroda are crucial and could decide our future, he told The Indian Express on Monday. A good performance here will help take us towards safety.