Joginder is optimistic of a chance after bowling 202.4 overs, scalping 38 wickets in six matches with two seven wickets hauls in an innings and two big hundreds in this first class season; Sehwag, with a total of 89 on the last Test tour is optimistic that his name still carries weight. He missed practice and drove down to join the team only late tonight; maybe, he will get one last chance in the match to make the cut with his performance instead.

As one manages a three-hour drive from the capital, escaping the maze of traffic snarls through a well-designed network of kuchha sadak running in between mustard and sugarcane fields, the Ch Bansi Lal Stadium in this little village of Lahli, 15 km from the city of Rohtak, braces for a battle of optimism.

There are a few others too, like Ashish Nehra and Gautam Gambhir. They too will be watched.

There are selfish desires to this Ranji game, and this Jat land is waiting for their bhai Sehwag to appease their appetite with a power-packed performance. Delhi needs its too to wipe out any possibility of relegation; similar to what Haryana expects from Joginder.

The wicket looks a lot dry with threatening cracks all around but is expected to hold firm. As the chill gets evident, the ball will move a lot longer through the air and tempt both sides to move in with three seamers each.

Delhi will have three changes from the last match as Sehwag, Gambhir and Nehra coming in for Virat Kohli, Ishant Sharma (both away for India under-19) and Suhail Sharma, who’s been dropped form the squad.