It seemed like a spot in the middle of a wildlife resort, with dense trees and narrow roads along rummaged monuments. The Motibaug cricket ground stands near the Fatehpuri museum and palace, basking in its serenity and with a chance of sighting peacocks in full bloom. It’s one of the benefits of domestic cricket that only Mithun Manhas has seen among the Delhi players getting ready for their season-opener against Baroda.

But Manhas, the team’s middle-order mainstay, was ruled out on Monday due to a troublesome hamstring, as was leg-spinner Chetanya Nanda after a freak ankle injury — he twisted it over loose mud on the landing spot in the nets. Delhi have called up all-rounders Joginder Singh and Ankur Julka as cover but are unlikely to reach before lunch. The other Delhi players grappled with uneven bounce of the turf as well, and batsman Shikhar Dhawan’s tattooed body got a fresh imprint smack on his chest.

But the centre wicket looked well-rolled and the outfield was lush — the steady bounce on the pitch’s red soil is expected to test bowlers for temperament and batsmen for technique in what is expected to be an even contest, especially with Baroda all-rounder Irfan Pathan still in rehab. Delhi will bank on skipper Aakash Chopra’s patience, Dhawan’s aggression and Rajat Bhatia’s grit, while Vadodara will rely on stand-in skipper Connor Williams, veterans Jacob Martin and Satyajit Parab, and the big-hitting Yusuf Pathan.

In the bowling department, Azhar Bilakhia — having earned his fame with IPL team Deccan Chargers — will be keen to make an impression, while left-arm spinner Rajesh Pawar will be the main bowling threat as usual. Seamers Ajitesh Argal and Salim Veragi have been impressive of late but the absence of Irfan and Munaf Patel gives the Delhi seam attack of Pradeep Sangwan, Parwinder Awana and Sumit Narhwal an edge.

... contd.