Yash Dhull has been selected for the Delhi Ranji Trophy squad.

Yash Dhull, captain of India’s U19 World Cup-winning squad, was named to the Delhi side for the Ranji Trophy, which begins on February 17, while senior India pacer Ishant Sharma has declared himself unavailable for selection. The BCCI honoured the Dhull-led India U-19 team during the second ODI against the West Indies on Wednesday in Ahmedabad. Dhull will get a taste of red cherry at the considerably tougher first-class level because he was unable to participate in the home red-ball event at the U-19 level due to his white ball obligations with the Indian squad.

“His confidence is good, and despite not having played many red ball matches, we want him to have a taste of first-class cricket,” a selector told PTI.

With his future in the Indian squad unknown, experienced bowler Ishant has informed DDCA president Rohan Jaitley that he will not be available for selection for the state team.

Pradeep Sangwan, a left-arm pacer, will captain the team. Yash Dhull hasn’t had much time to relax after his victory in the Caribbean last week.

Dhull, who arrived in India with the rest of the team on Tuesday morning, will pay a brief visit to his birthplace Delhi on Thursday morning before rejoining the squad in Guwahati later that day.

Dhull and the rest of the crew must arrive in Guwahati on Thursday and undergo a five-day quarantine. Navdeep Saini, an Indian pacer, is also on the team.

Squad for Ranji Trophy: Pradeep Sangwan (C), Nitish Rana, Dhruv Shorey , Priyansh Arya , Yash Dhull, Khsitij Sharma, Jonty Sidhu, Himmat Singh, Lalit Yadav , Anuj Rawat (Wk), Lakshay Thareja wk, Navdeep Saini, Simarjit Singh , Mayank Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Vikas Mishra, Shivang Vashist, Shivam Sharma.

COVID reserves: Dev Lakra, Hrithik Shokeen. PTI KHS BS AT AT