Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Waghela rewarded maiden call-up after shining for Delhi in under-23 tournaments
Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Waghela rewarded maiden call-up after shining for Delhi in under-23 tournaments
As some of the heavyweights of Indian cricket get ready for a rare appearance in the Ranji Trophy, wide-eyed youngsters have much to gain by being in the same dressing room.
Among those keen to utilise this opportunity is teenager Rounak Waghela, who has been named in Delhi’s Ranji Trophy squad for the first time for the game against Saurashtra in Rajkot from Thursday.
Just 17 years old, Waghela has earned the call-up to the senior team after a bag of wickets as a left-arm orthodox spinner for Delhi’s U-23 side this season.
He also bats left-handed and describes himself as an all-rounder. In the first five games of the C.K. Nayudu Trophy — the BCCI’s U-23 First Class Competition, which resumes on January 25 — he scalped 31 wickets. In the U-23 One Day tournament that concluded on January 10, he claimed 22 scalps in seven matches. In both competitions, he is among the top five wicket-takers.
“It is very pleasing to get into the Ranji squad for the first time. I am extremely happy. I was expecting it to an extent because I have been performing well in the U-23s,” Waghela told Sportstar on Monday.
Among the big guns that Waghela has a chance to observe from close proximity in Rajkot are Rishabh Pant for Delhi and Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja for Saurashtra.
“It is very important to have experiences like these,” was Waghela’s laconic response on the prospect of learning from these players.
Waghela, whose father is a tuition teacher, trains at the Venkateshwar Cricket Academy in Dwarka under Devdutt Baghel. He started out as a left-arm medium-pacer before switching to spin on the advice of his coach.
“He has been coming to my academy since the age of seven. He is very focused on cricket. I would say his game is similar to Jadeja’s. His accuracy is his strength,” Baghel remarked.
