Delhi’s Ayush Doseja plays a shot (PTI Photo)
NEW DELHI: A dejected Ayush Doseja trudged back to the pavilion after being strangled down the leg side for 78, his long-awaited big score ending in an unfortunate dismissal. After a prolific 949-run season last year, the Delhi southpaw has endured a frustrating start to the 2026-27 domestic season, struggling to convert starts across the Duleep Trophy and Ranji Trophy . I was batting well against Bengal, though,” Doseja told reporters after Day 2 of the match between Delhi and Services at the Air Force Complex Ground in Palam. For the 24-year-old, the second season has also brought a different kind of attention. “I was getting starts in every match, scoring 25, 30 or 40 runs.
Because i had scored 949 runs last year, and in the first four innings this season, I hadn’t scored a single fifty, there was a little outside noise. Because of my own mistake, in this match, I was thinking that I shouldn’t get out.
I’m really happy that we were able to take the team forward,” he said. If the bowler gets me out, that’s fine,” he said. “I wouldn’t call it frustration. “I felt I had been batting really well in the matches before this, but I was getting out through unfortunate dismissals. So, luck wasn’t really on my side. The breakthrough came with a patient innings that helped Delhi recover from a difficult position and move towards a better result. Doseja’s approach was straightforward: avoid giving his wicket away and trust the game that had brought him success. It went well. We were a little behind in the match, but now we have come back into a strong position. The expectations, naturally, have grown. But he does not see that as added pressure.
His performances last year earned him opportunities in the Rest of India squad and the Duleep Trophy, putting him closer to the India A conversation. On Tuesday, he finally broke the run of missed opportunities, registering his highest score of the season, but the dismissal left him short of a much-needed century. Even today, I got out down the leg side. “Today, I had decided that I would bat for a long time and wouldn’t play any wrong shots.
Starts of 25, 30 and 40 runs kept coming, without the big score he was looking for.
The first few innings did not quite go according to plan. The second-season blues can be a tricky phase for a cricketer. After a breakthrough year, expectations rise. For Doseja, the challenge this Ranji Trophy season has been less about a loss of form and more about converting promising starts into substantial scores. Unfortunate dismissals, including a run-out, added to the frustration.