Mumbai, Jan 2 (IANS) A confident Delhi, boosted by the inclusion of pacer Ishant Sharma, will take on Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy semifinal at the Cricket Club of India here Sunday.
After a lacklustre start to the season that included an innings loss against Uttar Pradesh, Delhi bounced back in style. They registered their first victory after three matches, cashing on the home advantage to score outright wins against Saurashtra and Maharashtra. Delhi drew their last league match against Bengal and with 16 points, qualified for the quarterfinals.

In the quarterfinals, Delhi’s middle order showed character in surpassing the 463-run first innings total against Group A toppers Tamil Nadu to reach the last four.

Gaurav Chabra hit his maiden century and left arm seamer Vikas Mishra returned a five-wicket haul.

Delhi’s seam attack, comprising Pradeep Sangwan, Pawan Suyal - who made an impressive debut this season - Sumit Narwal and Parvinder Awana, has been their strength.

The team would be bolstered with the presence of Ishant, who has been left out for the Bangladesh series due to indifferent form and would be eager to get back among wickets.

Delhi’s battting has centered around Puneet Bisht, Mithun Manhas and skipper Rajat Bhatia in the absence of Shikhar Dhwan and former skipper Aakash Chopra, who returned for the quarterfinbals after missing three straight matches.

Bisht bailed out the team from precarious situations, scoring two centuries this season.

Manhas, who also returned from a hamstring injury after sitting out of the initial matches, made 76 in the quarterfinals. But it was Chabra, whose maiden century enabled Delhi to get the crucial first innings lead against their fancied rivals Tamil Nadu.

Defending champions Mumbai too had their ups and downs in the league matches. The top order has been inconsistent and Wasim Jaffer and Ajinkya Rahane are the only two batsmen to be consistent with the bat.

Mumbai will be without talented Rohit Sharma, who will be doing national duty in the tri-series in Bangladesh.