Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant have been included in Delhi's extensive 84-member probable squad for the upcoming Ranji Trophy, while veteran pacer Ishant Sharma has opted out of the tournament. Kohli hasn’t participated in the Ranji Trophy since 2012, and Pant made a single appearance back in 2019.
"This is standard procedure. Virat is a registered player for Delhi, and it's not unusual for his name to appear in the probable list. The same applies to Rishabh," said chief selector Gursharan Singh in an interview with The Indian Express. However, it is unlikely that either Kohli or Pant will participate in any of Delhi's matches during the tournament.
On the other hand, Ishant Sharma, who played a couple of matches last season, has confirmed his unavailability for red-ball cricket. While he did not take part in the inaugural Delhi Premier League (DPL), he is expected to make himself available for the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament scheduled to occur just before the IPL auctions. A DDCA official noted, "Ishant has clarified that he won't be playing in the red-ball format but may participate in the white-ball tournaments like the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy."
Meanwhile, promising Delhi fast bowler Mayank Yadav, known for his impressive speed showcased during the IPL, is also included in the probable squad. After more than four months away from competitive cricket, he is focused on making a return for Delhi’s initial matches in the tournament. Yadav, who did not feature in any of the four Duleep Trophy squads and withdrew from the inaugural DPL, is reportedly regaining fitness. His mentor and former Delhi U-19 coach, Narender Negi, shared, "Mayank is bowling 15 overs daily at the NCA nets and is aiming to be fit for Delhi’s first Ranji Trophy match."