Gambhir steps down, Ishant to lead Delhi

Squad: Ishant Sharma (captain), Gautam Gambhir, Unmukt Chand, Nitish Rana, Dhruv Shorey, Milind Kumar, Himmat Singh, Kunal Chandela, Rishabh Pant (wk), Manan Sharma, Vikas Sharma, Pulkit Narang, Navdeep Saini,Vikas Tokas, Kulwant Khejroliya. (Photo: DDCA)

Left-arm spinner Vikas Mishra also made a comeback replacing Varun Sood. With no quality off-break bowlers on the horizon, Pulkit Narang was persisted with by the selection committee. (Photo: DDCA)

The team did have a few surprises including rookie batsman Kunal Chandela selected purely on the basis of a triple hundred for North Zone University in the Vizzy Trophy. Incidentally, Chandela had played for Delhi U-23 last season and was a complete flop in the CK Nayudu Trophy before being dropped. (Photo: DDCA)

Delhi made an inglorious exit from the group league and their campaign was marred by bitter exchange of words between Gambhir and coach KP Bhaskar. (Photo: twitter)

Gambhir was reprimanded by a disciplinary committee and was handed a suspended sentence of four games. (Photo: AFP)

Gambhir was removed from captaincy during the Vijay Hazare Trophy last season and young Rishabh Pant was given the responsibility. (Photo: AP)

With Bhaskar being retained as coach despite non- performance, it was inevitable that Gambhir would have had to make his way as the duo apparently were never on the same page with regards to team policies. (Photo: Twitter)

Rishabh Pant will have his India A commitments and he is also being groomed as Dhoni’s replacement in the Indian side, so he was not burdened with the Delhi leadership role. (Photo: ICC)

While Unmukt Chand have had too many disastrous seasons to be even considered for a leadership role. (Photo: PTI)

The 36-year-old Gambhir, who had captained Delhi in the Ranji Trophy for the past four seasons, expressed his desire to continue as a player. (Photo: AP)

Out of favour Indian opener Gautam Gambhir has decided to step down from Delhi Ranji team's captaincy role. (Photo: PTI)

Fast bowler Ishant Sharma has been named as the captain of Delhi Ranji Trophy side for the upcoming season. (Photo: BCCI)