Delhi to play final Ranji league tie at Kotla

Delhi will play their final league match of the Ranji Trophy against table toppers Karnataka Dec 30 at the Ferozeshah Kotla and not Roshanara Ground, Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) vice-president Chetan Chauhan confirmed Thursday.

Delhi have played all their home games at Roshanara despite having an international venue like Kotla, triggering a controversy of sorts within the DDCA.

"The match will be played at Kotla. We decided to have the first three games at Roshanara thinking the conditions there will suit us more," Chauhan, who is also the head of the Delhi selection committee, told IANS.

Asked whether he has spoken to skipper Gautam Gambhir on the change of location, Chauhan replied: "I have not spoken to him about it yet but I can confirm that Kotla will host the match."

Things did not go as planned for Delhi, who won against Haryana and Vidarbha before losing to Punjab Wednesday at the nondescript venue.

They are now struggling to make the quarterfinals, lying fifth behind Punjab, Mumbai, Gujarat and Karnataka.

Delhi also need to sort out their selection issues afer a row erupted over the inclusion of Haryana-based medium pacer Navdeep Saini.

It is believed the 21-year-old had the backing of Gambhir, something that did not go down well with the DDCA Sports Committee. The committee protested against Saini's inclusion, questioning the credentials of the player.

"I cannot talk about Saini's case at the moment as we will pick the team day after," said Chauhan when asked about the squad for the Karnataka game.