Ranji Trophy: Unmukt Chand, Gautam Gambhir give Delhi blockbuster opening

That partnership would leave Delhi in the driver’s seat at stumps with a total of 178/1. While the Delhi skipper fought his way back to form with a well compiled 66, Unmukt made most of a hapless Gujarat attack and was unbeaten on 97 when umpires called off the game due to fading light.

Consistency has not been Unmukt’s forte. Last season, he would give his wicket away after getting starts. He had a century last year against Mumbai, but failed to perform henceforth.

This season though, Unmukt has found himself in rich vein of form having got starts against Saurashtra and Rajasthan. Having scored 147 in the previous game against Rajasthan, Unmukt knew the importance of capitalising on his good form and building on those numbers.

On Sunday, the 21-year-old showed signs of maturity, cutting out all the risk in the initial overs. Though the ball did less as compared to the previous match, he managed to control the nerves initially.

Hapless Gujarat

Gujarat were certainly short on experience with their skipper Parthiv Patel missing the game due to a neck injury. Indeed as the opening partnership grew, the visitors looked increasingly clueless . Unmukt negotiated the early overs by Rush Kalaria, his India teammate at the U-19 level. However, as he spent more time at the crease, he managed to get into his groove, scoring more freely and pouncing on the loose deliveries.

From half punches, his follow-through of the bat kept growing and as soon as he settled in, Unmukt began to take on the bowling.

In his 12 hits to the fence, Unmukt scored both of the back foot and looked equally stylish on the front. He looked in the zone when he square-cut Ishwar Choudhary twice.

If Unmukt was comfortable against Gujarat’s pacers, he was merciless against the spinners.

In the 19th over, he jumped out twice and launched off-spinner Jesal Karia over the long-on fence. Later, in the 34th over, he pulled Kushang Patel for a maximum behind square, and then pulled him in front to complete his half century.

Both Gambhir and Unmukt cashed in on left-arm spinner Pranjal Sutaria. An over before Unmukt reached 53, Gambhir hit Sutaria for 16 runs, including a boundary and two sixes to bring up his half century. Delhi were cruising at over three runs an over at that juncture.

Delhi’s first 100-run stand for the first wicket meant that the Gambhir and Unmukt had laid a solid platform. With the weather indicating a delay on Day 2, it will be interesting to see how Unmukt and Sehwag shape up tomorrow.

Brief scores: Delhi 178/1 (U. Chand 97 batting, G. Gambhir 66) vs Gujarat.