Ranji Trophy: Upendra Yadav Anchors Railways<\/p>\n
Amidst the chaos outside Arun Jaitley Stadium, Railways\u2019 Upendra Yadav brought stability to his team on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy clash against Delhi. The wicketkeeper-batter played a resilient knock of 95, steering his side out of trouble from a precarious 66 for 5.<\/p>\n
Railways managed to post 241 in their first innings, thanks to a crucial 104-run partnership between Yadav and Karn Sharma (50). In response, Delhi lost opener Arpit Rana and ended Day 1 at 41 for 1.<\/p>\n
Virat Kohli Steals the Spotlight Amidst Ranji Trophy Chaos
\nThe day, however, belonged to Virat Kohli. Fans turned up in massive numbers to witness him play his first Ranji Trophy match in over 12 years, creating an electrifying atmosphere. The scene outside Arun Jaitley Stadium was chaotic, with a near-stampede at Gate 16. Adding to the commotion, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg was sealed in the morning as it fell on Prime Minister Narendra Modi\u2019s route to Raj Ghat, where he was paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary.<\/p>\n
To manage the swelling crowd, Delhi Police resorted to a lathi-charge, while the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) had to open Gate 18 and an additional stand to allow fans inside.<\/p>\n
While the frenzy continued outside, the Railways batters felt the pressure on the field. The first session was intense, with Kohli\u2019s infectious energy pumping up the crowd in support of the home team. The fans responded enthusiastically, making the stadium roar with excitement. The Railways batters seemed overwhelmed, and when left-arm seamer Sidhhant Sharma trapped Anchit Yadav (7) LBW in the second over, the half-filled stands erupted in celebration.<\/p>\n
Upendra Yadav Stays Calm Amidst the Frenzy
\nWhile chaos unfolded outside, Upendra Yadav remained composed on the field, crafting a crucial 95-run knock. Partnering with Karn Sharma (50), he helped Railways recover from a shaky start, building a 104-run stand for the sixth wicket. However, Yadav fell just short of a century, miscuing a big shot off Sumit Mathur.<\/p>\n
Having played in the IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Yadav credited his experience in high-pressure situations for staying focused. \u201cIt was all because of Virat Kohli. Ranji games don\u2019t usually see such crowds,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n
Despite solid performances for India A, Yadav has seen others overtake him. \u201cI don\u2019t know why I was dropped, but my job is to keep scoring runs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Saini and Delhi Bowlers Shine
\nDelhi\u2019s bowlers took full advantage of the conditions, with Navdeep Saini (3\/62), Siddhant Sharma (2\/35), and Money Grewal (2\/49) dismantling Railways’ batting lineup. Sumit Mathur (3\/20) removed Yadav and cleaned up the tail.<\/p>\n