In a highly anticipated Ranji Trophy match at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium, all eyes were on Virat Kohli's return to domestic red-ball cricket after 13 years. However, it was Railways' wicketkeeper-batsman, Upendra Yadav, who stole the spotlight with a resilient knock of 95 runs, guiding his team to a total of 241 on the opening day.
The day's play began with Delhi's pace trio—Navdeep Saini, Siddhant Sharma, and Money Grewal—exploiting the early morning conditions to leave Railways struggling at 66 for 5. Demonstrating remarkable composure, Yadav partnered with veteran spinner Karn Sharma (50 off 105 balls) to forge a crucial 104-run stand for the sixth wicket.
Yadav's innings, which included 10 boundaries and a six, was a blend of patience and aggression. He was poised to secure his third century of the season but fell just five runs short, mistiming an aerial shot off left-arm spinner Sumit Mathur, resulting in a catch at long-off. His partnership with Sharma not only stabilized the innings but also frustrated the Delhi bowlers as the pitch conditions improved throughout the day.
The match drew an unprecedented crowd of over 12,000 spectators, primarily due to Kohli's presence. Despite the initial excitement surrounding the former Indian captain, it was Yadav's determined performance that became the day's highlight. At stumps, Delhi stood at 41 for 1 in 10 overs, setting the stage for an intriguing contest ahead.
Upendra Yadav's impressive form this season continues to bolster Railways' batting lineup, and his latest innings underscores his growing prominence in the domestic circuit.
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