The Ranji Trophy 2024-25 match between Delhi and Tamil Nadu at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium ended in a dramatic draw. Tamil Nadu came tantalizingly close to securing a win, needing just two wickets on the final day, but Delhi managed to hold on. With the match poised for a possible Tamil Nadu victory, pacer Navdeep Saini became the center of attention, playing a key role in helping Delhi avoid defeat. Saini’s late-game heroics and his controversial tactics led to a thrilling end to the contest.
Navdeep Saini’s Controversial Move
Navdeep Saini, batting towards the end of Delhi’s second innings, found himself in a tricky situation as Tamil Nadu pushed for victory. He managed to score an unbeaten 15 off 64 balls under challenging conditions, but it wasn’t just his batting that made headlines. During the fading light, a bouncer from a rival bowler brushed Saini’s helmet.
Initially, he signaled to his batting partner that he was fine and capable of continuing. However, moments later, he unexpectedly fell to the ground, prompting suspicion. Replays suggested that Saini was faking an injury to waste time and delay the match, aiding Delhi’s chances of forcing a draw.
Match Outcome and Points Distribution
As a result of Saini’s antics and the diminishing light, the umpires called for bad light, halting the game. Tamil Nadu, who dominated the first innings by posting 674 runs thanks to Sai Sudharsan’s double century and tons from Washington Sundar and Ranjan Paul, fell short of victory.
Delhi’s response was weak, with Yash Dhull’s century standing out in their first innings total of 266. Following on, Delhi were 193/8 at stumps on the final day. Tamil Nadu earned 3 points for their first-innings lead, while Delhi gained one point. Had Tamil Nadu secured an outright win, they would have earned 6 points, with an additional point for winning by an innings.
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