Ranji Trophy 2026-27: Services stages recovery against Delhi via Rajat Paliwal’s unbeaten century

Rajat Paliwal was the chief contributor in Services’ 288-run first innings total. | Photo Credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap

Rajat Paliwal’s First-Class career for Services is into its 15th season. In his vast span, crisis management has become second nature for the 34-year-old. All of that experience came into productive use at the Airforce Complex Ground in Palam on Monday as the Services skipper dug in for an unbeaten 111 off 196 balls on day one of the Ranji Trophy Group C face-off against Delhi.

Paliwal’s innings was the chief contribution in Services’ total of 266 in 88 overs after opting to bat. He was stranded in the end, with No. 11 Virender Nepal castled by left-arm tweaker Aman Chaudhary when there were less than 10 minutes to go for the day’s close.

Though Delhi managed to take all 10 wickets on the opening day, Services would be chuffed with its recovery from a precarious 44 for four in 17.4 overs. Paliwal summoned all his grit to forge a partnership of 69 with Mohit Ahlawat for the fifth wicket. Delhi’s bowlers were in for more frustration owing to a 70-run ninth-wicket alliance between Paliwal and Pulkit Narang.

A warm morning session saw pacer Navdeep Saini make full use of the moisture on a fresh deck. Off just the second ball of the first over, the 33-year-old induced a nick from left-hander Shubham Rohilla to Yash Dhull at first slip. Saini made another inroad with the new ball when Ravi Chauhan’s outside edge was snaffled by Anuj Rawat.

Spin, too, played a prominent role. Aman enjoyed the maximum success with the ball for the host, returning figures of 31-4-79-4. The youngster opened his account with Nitin Tanwar’s caught-behind dismissal.

Just when Services looked set to go down like ninepins, Paliwal stood up. The middle-order veteran showed neat footwork against the slow bowlers, stepping out and lofting the turning ball over the infield on a few occasions. The precise value of his knock will be known when Delhi responds with the bat on Tuesday.