Ranji Trophy: Avasthi's 5-fer dampens Sangwan's century as Mumbai put Delhi through wringer on Day 1

Sanat Sangwan delivered a standout performance for Delhi on the opening day of their Group D Ranji Trophy clash against Mumbai, anchoring the innings with a resolute 118. Despite his heroics, the rest of the Delhi batting lineup struggled to find their footing. The visitors were ultimately bowled out for 221, largely due to a disciplined bowling display by Mumbai’s Mohit Avasthi, who dismantled the middle and lower order to finish with impressive figures of 5/62.

Delhi's  batting collapse despite Sanat Sangwan's ton 

Sangwan’s innings was a masterclass in temperament, as he expertly balanced caution and aggression to weather early seam movement and testing spells from the Mumbai pace attack. His 218-ball stay at the crease included 11 boundaries and two sixes, providing the backbone for the Delhi total. A critical part of his innings was a solid 100-run partnership for the second wicket with Vaibhav Kandpal (32), a stand that briefly put Delhi in a position of strength and forced the hosts to work hard for their breakthroughs.

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By the close of play on Day 1, Mumbai had begun their reply, reaching 13/1 at stumps. Delhi’s Divij Mehra provided an early spark for the visitors by dismissing Akash Anand for just 4 runs. As they head into day two, the hosts trail by 208 runs in the first innings, setting the stage for a competitive battle as they look to overhaul Delhi's modest total.

Mohit Avasthi turns screw on Delhi batters

Delhi’s batting effort unraveled quickly following a promising start in the morning session. After reaching a comfortable score of 111/1 during the second session, the momentum shifted dramatically when Mohit Avasthi launched a devastating third spell. In a clinical display of seam bowling, Avasthi produced a burst of six overs, conceding only 17 runs while claiming three crucial wickets to rip through the heart of the visitors' lineup.

The Mumbai pacer demonstrated exceptional control, specifically targeting Delhi’s left-handers by angling deliveries across them and cramping them for room. This tactical precision led to the dismissals of Ayush Doseja—captaining the side in his debut season, and Sumit Mathur, both of whom were caught behind in nearly identical fashion. Prior to this, Avasthi had already made inroads by tempting debutant Aryan Rana into a loose shot outside off-stump, resulting in a catch for Sarfaraz Khan at first slip.

Ultimately, Delhi failed to capitalise on the solid platform established by their top-order partnership. Avasthi returned for a final stint to clean up the tail, claiming two more wickets to complete his well-deserved five-wicket haul. His performance ensured that Delhi's middle and lower order squandered their advantage, leaving the visitors with a subpar total after a collapse that completely changed the complexion of day one.

Delhi’s batting collapse was staggering, as the team lost their final nine wickets for a mere 110 runs. The collapse was triggered by spinner Shams Mulani, who broke a crucial partnership by dismissing Vaibhav Kandpal. Mulani extracted significant turn and bounce from the surface, forcing an edge that was safely Sharp-caught at slip, effectively ending Delhi's resistance and shifting the momentum firmly toward Mumbai.

The pressure remained relentless from both ends, with Tushar Deshpande providing excellent support to the attack. Deshpande finished the day with clinical figures of 2/36, consistently challenging the batters and ensuring that Delhi could not find any rhythm once the collapse began.