Bihar MP's son picked controversially for Delhi T20 side without playing a single match

Bihar MP, Pappu Yadav’s son, Sarthak Ranjan has been controversially picked to play Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Delhi. Sarthak hasn’t played a single match this season. Yadav is a former Rashtriya Janata Dal party member, his official name is Rajesh Ranjan. He is currently an MP from Madhepura while his wife is a Congress MP from Supaul.

During the start of the season, Sarthak withdrew from the Ranji probables. Reports stated that he had lost interest in the game and was preparing himself to contest in the Mr India contest. However, after a huge gap, his mother, Rajneet Ranjan a Congress MP wrote to a DDCA official that Sarthak was facing issues concerning mental health and he is fully fit to play. Following protocol, the letter was forwarded to the selectors and surprisingly the young lad was picked for the T20 tournament.

U23 top scorer, Hiten Dalal sidelined for Sarthak Ranjan

Moreover, MP’s son Sarthak was picked over U23 top scorer, Hiten Dalal. Unfortunately, Hiten was put in the reserves. He scored 468 runs, at a rate of 91.52 and averaging 52 in the CK Nayudu Trophy. His performance included three half-centuries, one hundred. His massive sixers impressed everyone, he hit 17 huge sixes. Despite a decent performance, Hiten was sidelined due to Sarthak’s influence.

Sarthak Ranjan played last year’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy which was also a controversial pick. However, he couldn’t manage more than 10 runs in three games. He scored 5, 3, and 2 runs respectively in the games he played. The Delhi selectors have ignored many performers but have picked an influential person’s son.

I personally monitored him says Wassan

“Sarthak had some mental issues. Once he was deemed fit, I personally monitored him and kept him in the standbys as Delhi U-23 was playing really well,” member of the selection panel, Atul Wassan said when questioned on this issue. However, Sarthak being picked ahead of the U23 top scorer has raised several eyebrows.

“The selection committee has been entrusted with the job and we believe they have done their duty without any pressure. The boy in question (Sarthak), I feel, is attracting some attention because of who his father is. But I have no information that selectors were under any kind of pressure,” DCDA administrator, Vikramjit Sen was quoted as saying.

On the other hand, a senior DDCA official criticized the selectors’ decision and spoke anonymously on this controversy. “Where do you leave a boy like Hiten, whose parents are not heavyweight politicians? He scores runs and someone’s parent just writes a letter that he is fit, doesn’t play a match and is on the team,” the official was quoted by India Today.