The Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) is once again facing scrutiny after a controversy erupted over the selection of the Delhi U-19 cricket team for the upcoming Vinoo Mankad Trophy. An opening batter with no prior experience as a wicketkeeper was initially included in the 23-member squad as a second wicketkeeping option, sparking outrage and raising questions about the integrity of the selection process.
According to reports, the squad, announced on October 3, 2025, included Abhiraj Gagan Singh as the primary wicketkeeper. However, the player listed at number 22 in the squad, designated as the backup wicketkeeper, was allegedly someone who "doesn't keep wickets at all," according to a report in Dainik Jagran. This immediately triggered a backlash within the DDCA, with several officials expressing their concerns to President Rohan Jaitley, alleging that the selection was influenced by favoritism rather than merit.
Sources suggest that the selectors themselves were not responsible for this irregularity. Instead, a senior DDCA official is believed to have pressured the committee to include the non-wicketkeeping batter as a backup keeper. An insider familiar with the situation stated, "When someone is included as a wicketkeeper despite not having any credentials for the role, it's obvious there is a larger reason or influence at play".
Upon learning of the situation, President Jaitley intervened swiftly. He ordered the removal of the player and approved the inclusion of a genuine wicketkeeper in his place. The revised squad has since departed for Ranchi, where the Vinoo Mankad Trophy is scheduled to begin on October 9, 2025.
The controversy did not end there, as two further changes were made to the squad. One player was dropped due to discrepancies in submitted documents, while another was excluded for undisclosed reasons.
This incident has also reignited concerns about governance and transparency within the DDCA. Despite an explicit order from the association's Lokpal (Ombudsman) in September 2023 banning DDCA officials from attending selection committee meetings to ensure impartiality, Secretary Ashok Sharma and Joint Secretary Amit Grover reportedly attended the recent U-19 selection meeting chaired by Ashu Dani. DDCA member Suresh Kumar Sharma had even reminded President Jaitley of the Lokpal's instructions prior to the meeting.
While President Jaitley's intervention may have averted a flawed selection, the episode underscores persistent issues within the DDCA's administration, including conflicts of interest and a lack of transparency. With the Delhi U-19 team now in Ranchi for the national tournament, attention will shift to their performance; however, the controversy has once again cast a shadow over the credibility of the association. This incident is the latest in a series of controversies that have plagued the DDCA in recent years, raising serious questions about whether internal politics continue to influence selections in Delhi cricket.
