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Delhi’s rising star Ayush Doseja, who cracked an unbeaten 159 to help his team force a draw against Mumbai, has emerged as a rare bright spot in an otherwise challenging season, finishing Ranji Trophy 2025-2026 group stage as the tournament’s leading run-scorer. After amassing a remarkable 949 runs across seven matches, the 23-year-old expressed his desire to emulate the rigorous discipline and fitness standards set by Indian icon Virat Kohli. Doseja believes that adopting such a professional routine is essential for maintaining the high level of performance he displayed throughout his breakout year.
The young batter’s statistics are nothing short of elite, especially considering he only made his debut against Hyderabad earlier this season. Maintaining a staggering average of 105.44, Doseja proved to be a model of consistency by recording four centuries and five half-centuries in just seven outings. His ability to anchor the innings and convert starts into big scores quickly established him as one of the most formidable players in the domestic circuit.
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I have been idolising Virat Kohli since childhood: Ayush Doseja
Unfortunately, Doseja’s individual brilliance was not enough to lift his team’s fortunes. Delhi endured a difficult campaign, finishing seventh in the eight-team Group D standings. The team struggled to find a winning formula, concluding the season without a single victory and recording six draws and one loss. Despite the team's collective struggles, Doseja’s prolific form has firmly placed him on the national radar for future honors.
“I have been idolising him since childhood. When he was out in the second match (of the Vijay Hazare Trophy), I got some time to talk to him. He told me that if I am going to the ground, I have to give 200 percent because you representing Delhi and it is a big deal. If I want to play for India, I have to keep the same mindset,” Doseja said after Delhi's draw against Mumbai.
“(He said) ‘if you are going to the ground, you have to dominate and not play in survival mode’. This was the message and I follow his fitness regime a lot and had spoken about it as well. I also try to keep a good diet and keep myself match-fit as much as possible,” the 23-year-old added.
Ayush's big words for Sarfaraz Khan
Beyond his own performances, Doseja has been proactive in seeking out mentorship to sharpen his skills. He revealed that he took the opportunity to consult with India and Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan, a player renowned for his prolific scoring record in the domestic circuit. The interaction was focused on the nuances of the long-form game, as Doseja sought to understand the mental and technical adjustments needed to excel in red-ball cricket. By picking the brain of an established international player like Sarfaraz, the young Delhi batter aims to add more depth to his already impressive batting repertoire.
“I went to him myself. Sarfaraz is such a big player in domestic cricket and I asked him how I can improve in red soil. I try to become a three-format player. I prepare equally in white-ball. He told me that in red soil, if you bat with your head down, it will be better (and that way) you would hit fewer casual shots because it bounces. He said I could vary my game in red soil and black soil but that I have to see in the middle,” he concluded.
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