In a first, all XI players bowl in T20 cricket during Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
All XI players, including the wicketkeeper, bowled for the first time in professional T20 cricket during the ongoing 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on Friday, November 29. Delhi scripted the unique record while playing against Manipur at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
No team had previously used more than nine bowlers in T20s.
In the Indian domestic circuit, Bengal, Kerala (both in 2014 versus Goa and Tripura, respectively) and Meghalaya (vs Arunachal in 2021) have used nine bowlers in an innings during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Delhi captain and wicketkeeper Ayush Badoni bowled two overs, including a maiden, giving away eight runs and picking up a wicket.
None of the bowlers completed their quota of four overs, with three of them bowling a maximum of three apiece. Badoni's men eventually restricted Manipur to 120/8.
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Wicketkeepers bowling is quite common in professional cricket. Former India captain MS Dhoni rolled his arm over on several occasions. His only wicket came against the West Indies when he bowled Travis Dowlin in the 2009 Champions Trophy.
Several Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises like now-defunct Kochi Tuskers Kerala and Deccan Chargers, and active teams Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants have used a maximum of nine bowlers in T20s.
A few low-ranked teams without Test status have also used nine bowlers in international cricket. India have used a maximum of eight bowlers in T20Is, which has came on four occasions, twice against South Africa (2009 and 2012) and once each versus Australia (2012) and the West Indies (2023).
"This is mockery of professional cricket" - Former India player slams Delhi's move in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
Former India player Dodda Ganesh has slammed the move by Delhi, calling it a mockery while crediting Manipur for their batting display in the Syed Mushaq Ali Trophy. He wrote on X:
"This is mockery of professional cricket. There was no need for Delhi to do that. It just goes to show the quality of the plate teams."
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