New Delhi, Feb 27 (UNI) The Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) has received an overwhelming response to its phased open bowling trials, with over 3,500 players registering across multiple age groups under the supervision of former India cricketer Vijay Dahiya.
The structured trials, conducted separately for fast bowlers and spinners, aim to identify and nurture promising talent, particularly those who have not had adequate exposure in DDCA League matches, as per a release.
In a significant move to ensure inclusivity, registrations were kept completely free of cost to eliminate financial barriers.
Shortlisted players from the initial phase will advance to further rounds, forming the core of a structured development camp focused on technical refinement, performance assessment and long-term grooming.
DDCA President Rohan Jaitley said Delhi has historically produced some of India’s finest bowlers and emphasised that the initiative seeks to discover the next generation of match-winners.
“Delhi has a deep reservoir of bowling talent, but many players do not always get the exposure required at the right stage of their development. Through this phased and transparent process, we are widening the identification base and creating a structured pathway that supports genuine merit,” he said.
DDCA Vice President Shikha Kumar highlighted the psychological impact of such initiatives, noting that structured platforms help young cricketers feel noticed and build belief in their journey.
Secretary Ashok Sharma said the scale of participation reflected the hunger among Delhi’s young bowlers and reiterated that the objective was to build depth and create a sustainable pipeline for the state team.
The camp is being conducted by Dahiya alongside experienced coaches and former internationals, including Sanjeev Sharma, Gursharan Singh and Parvinder Awana, as well as domestic professionals such as Sumeet Dogra and Bantu Singh, ensuring technical depth and professional rigour in the evaluation process.
Dahiya described the initiative as a timely opportunity at the start of the off-season to identify bowlers and invest in their overall development, stressing the need for a strong bowling pool at both junior and senior levels.
As part of the next stage, leading cricket clubs across Delhi have been invited to nominate their top five bowlers.
The best from this club pool will be merged with those shortlisted from the open trials to create a combined high-potential group.
This integrated group will undergo further skill-specific training, focusing on pace development, control, variations, fitness standards and match temperament, along with attention to specialist areas such as left-arm pace and mystery spin.
DDCA also plans to provide exposure opportunities for standout performers, including referrals to competitive T20 platforms such as the Delhi Premier League and other association tournaments, aligning grassroots identification with league-level opportunities to accelerate player development.
