Mayank Agarwal hits 94 as Delhi U-25 fightback through Sood and Anand

Sanity returned a day after the drama at Ferozeshah Kotla on Monday, when former cricketer Navdeep Tomar slammed the selectors and coach following a decision to leave out Yogesh Nagar from the Delhi U-25 eleven, a decision which upset many top officials and former cricketers in DDCA.

Sitting in his SUV, Nagar looked forlorn and lost after the end of second day’s play on Tuesday. For a player who has brushed shoulders with the best in Delhi over the past five seasons, and snared an amazing catch for the Delhi Daredevils to become a TV star, life had taken a strange turn. Not yet 25, he was being made to warm bench for even a junior team.

There were no words. He was lost as he stared blankly across into the emptied field.

Delhi, though, did something to forget that horrendous opening day when they were shot out for 146.

The Karnataka boys were looking good with Mayank Agarwal (94) in command. However, spinner Varun Sood and medium pacer Jagrit Anand took three wickets each while Sunny Sehrawat and under-fire captain Shelly Shaurya took two each to restrict Karnataka to 277. Delhi still lag by 131 runs and it’ll be up to a batting line-up generally considered weak due to the inclusion of certain batsmen whose places have been questioned.

Nevertheless, it was Sood who got the wicket of Agarwal to provide the much-needed breakthrough. Shaurya got a couple of important wickets, albeit via poor shots, but those were enough to dent Karnataka.

There was tight security around and the guards didn’t allow people to enter the ground after Monday’s incident.

Scores: Delhi U-25 146 & 10/0; Karnataka U-25 277 all out (M Agarwal 94, K Nair 54, V Sood 3/48, J Anand 3/37)