Ranchi: Delhi captain Ayush Badoni produced a remarkable batting performance in the Ranji Trophy, scoring his second consecutive double century in first-class cricket to put his team in a commanding position against Jharkhand in their Group C encounter on Tuesday.

After scoring 217 against Gujarat earlier this month, Badoni remained unbeaten on 210 off 228 balls as Delhi declared their first innings at 515 for five. With this achievement, the right-handed batter joined an elite group of Indian cricketers, including Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir, who have scored double centuries in consecutive first-class innings.

Badoni’s innings put Delhi firmly in control of the match at the end of the second day. Jharkhand reached 131 for four in reply, with Utkarsh Singh unbeaten on 53, leaving the hosts with considerable work to do to challenge Delhi’s total.

Badoni enters an elite list

Badoni’s consecutive double centuries underline his growing consistency in the longer format. Having scored 217 in his previous first-class innings against Gujarat, the Delhi captain followed it up with another monumental knock against Jharkhand.

According to the supplied match report, Badoni became the 21st Indian batter to score double centuries in successive first-class innings. The feat places him alongside prominent Indian batters such as Kohli and Gambhir, both of whom have achieved the milestone during their first-class careers.

The achievement is particularly notable given the demands of first-class cricket, where batters must sustain concentration over extended periods and adapt to changing pitch conditions, bowling strategies and match situations.

Badoni’s first-class average of more than 60, as cited in the report, further reflects his effectiveness in the format. His latest innings also demonstrated his ability to convert a strong start into a substantial contribution for his team.

Unbeaten partnership puts Delhi in control

Badoni was not alone in Delhi’s dominant batting display. He forged an unbeaten 334-run partnership with Sumit Mathur, who scored 150 not out off 253 balls at the time of declaration.

The pair continued their innings after Delhi resumed the second day at 309 for five. Their partnership helped the visitors recover from a position of relative uncertainty and build a total of 515 runs before declaring after 130 overs.

Mathur’s patient innings complemented Badoni’s scoring, with the two batters combining resilience and controlled aggression to keep Jharkhand’s bowlers on the field for an extended period.

Their stand was central to Delhi’s commanding position. Partnerships of this scale not only add runs but also put pressure on the opposition by limiting opportunities to take wickets and forcing bowlers to maintain discipline over long spells.

Delhi’s declaration at 515 for five gave the team a substantial first-innings total and placed the responsibility on Jharkhand to produce a strong response.

Jharkhand face a challenging reply

Jharkhand ended the second day at 131 for four in 47 overs, trailing Delhi’s first-innings total by 384 runs with six wickets remaining.

Utkarsh Singh provided resistance with an unbeaten 53, but the loss of four wickets left the home side needing further partnerships to reduce the deficit.

The match remained in progress at stumps, with Delhi in a favourable position following Badoni and Mathur’s outstanding partnership. Jharkhand’s next phase of batting would be important in determining whether the hosts could narrow the gap and put pressure back on Delhi.

Priyank Panchal highlights the value of domestic cricket

Former India A batter Priyank Panchal welcomed the emergence of quality middle-order batters in domestic cricket, highlighting the importance of players who can handle both pace and spin.

Panchal said that rewarding such performances could benefit the national team, pointing to Devdutt Padikkal as an example of a player whose domestic cricket contributions have helped him progress.

His comments reflected the wider significance of performances such as Badoni’s. The Ranji Trophy provides a platform for players to demonstrate their technique, temperament and consistency over multiple days, qualities that are difficult to assess through short-format performances alone.

Badoni’s successive double centuries strengthen his case as a batter capable of delivering substantial innings in first-class cricket. Consistent performances across domestic competitions can also help players remain in contention for higher-level opportunities, although selection depends on team requirements and the assessments of selectors.

Other Ranji Trophy matches

Elsewhere, Bengal posted 350 all out against Kerala at Mangalapuram. Shahbaz Ahmed scored 121, while Aditya Sarwate claimed four wickets for 95 runs. Kerala reached 101 for six in 35 overs, with Vishnu Vinod contributing 41 and Mohammed Shami taking three wickets for 20 runs.

In Pune, Gujarat were dismissed for 223 before Maharashtra reached 278 for nine. Saurabh Nawale top-scored with 95, while Chintan Gaja and Sidharth Desai claimed three wickets apiece for Gujarat.

Badoni’s performance remained the standout individual achievement among the supplied match updates. His second successive double century and the substantial partnership with Mathur gave Delhi a strong platform as their Ranji Trophy contest against Jharkhand continued.