Key points
- Services were bowled out for 266 in 88 overs on Day 1 against Delhi at the Airforce Complex Ground, Palam, on November 2, 2026.
- Captain Rajat Paliwal top-scored with an unbeaten 114 from 197 balls, hitting 10 fours.
- Services were reduced to 44 for four before Paliwal helped rebuild the innings with contributions from Mohit Ahlawat and the lower order.
- Mohit Ahlawat scored 33 from 49 balls, while Pulkit Narang added 30 from 89 deliveries.
- Delhi pacer Aman Chaudhary took four wickets for 79 runs in 31 overs; Navdeep Saini claimed three for 61 and Hrithik Shokeen took two for 61.
- Services won the toss and elected to bat; Delhi were yet to begin their first innings at stumps.
Services captain Rajat Paliwal struck an unbeaten 114 to steer his side to 266 all out on the opening day of their 2026-27 Ranji Trophy match against Delhi at the Airforce Complex Ground in Palam, New Delhi, on Monday. Services recovered from an early collapse before Delhi's bowlers dismissed the visitors in 88 overs.
Early strikes put Delhi on top
Services won the toss and elected to bat, but the decision was followed by a difficult start. Navdeep Saini struck with the second ball of the match, removing opener Shubham Rohilla for a duck. Saini later dismissed Ravi Chauhan, while Hrithik Shokeen accounted for Vineet Dhankhar.
Aman Chaudhary then removed Nitin Tanwar, who had made 22 from 55 balls, leaving Services at 44 for four. The top order had struggled to build partnerships, and Delhi had made early inroads through disciplined bowling. Paliwal, however, remained at the crease and began the task of rebuilding the innings.
Mohit Ahlawat provided important support after joining the captain. Ahlawat scored 33 from 49 deliveries, including three fours and two sixes. Their partnership helped Services move beyond the precarious position and gave the lower order a platform to add further runs.
Paliwal anchors the recovery with a century
Paliwal's innings was the defining contribution of the day. The Services captain faced 197 balls and finished unbeaten on 114, striking 10 fours. He managed the innings through the middle and later stages, keeping the scoreboard moving while wickets continued to fall at the other end.
After Ahlawat was dismissed at 113, Services lost Nakul Sharma for 12 and Arjun Sharma for 11. Paliwal continued to bat through those setbacks. Jayant Goyat added 17, while Pulkit Narang made 30 from 89 balls with six fours. Narang's contribution helped Paliwal push the total towards the 250 mark.
Services were eventually dismissed for 266 in 88 overs. Paliwal was the last recognised batter to remain unbeaten, with the innings ending after Virender was dismissed for a duck. The total gave Services a recovery from 44 for four, although Delhi had managed to take all 10 wickets before the close.
Chaudhary leads Delhi's bowling effort
Aman Chaudhary finished with four wickets for 79 runs from 31 overs, the best return among Delhi's bowlers. He removed Tanwar, Ahlawat, Nakul Sharma and Virender, playing a major role in preventing Services from building a larger total.
Saini took three wickets for 61 runs from 19 overs, including the early dismissals of Rohilla and Chauhan. Shokeen claimed two wickets for 61 from 21 overs, while Dev Lakra took one wicket. Delhi used seven bowlers during the innings, with Ayush Badoni and Sumit Mathur also contributing overs.
The figures reflected a day in which Delhi made regular breakthroughs but were unable to dislodge Paliwal before he had reached a century. Services' lower-order contributions, especially Narang's 30, ensured the innings lasted long enough to take the score to 266.
Delhi to begin its reply on Day 2
With Services bowled out in the final session, Delhi were yet to begin their first innings at stumps. The home side will look to build a substantial response when the match resumes, while Services will aim to use the remaining days to make their first-innings total count.
The match is scheduled as a four-day Ranji Trophy Elite fixture from November 2 to 5. Paliwal's century has given Services a foundation after their early trouble, but the contest remains open with Delhi still to bat.
For Delhi, the first-day effort was led by Chaudhary's four-wicket haul and Saini's early strikes. For Services, the headline was Paliwal's patient hundred, an innings that transformed a position of 44 for four into a total of 266.
Frequently asked questions
What was the score in Delhi vs Services on Day 1 of the Ranji Trophy?
Services were bowled out for 266 in 88 overs on the first day of their 2026-27 Ranji Trophy match against Delhi at the Airforce Complex Ground in Palam on November 2. Delhi had not started their first innings by stumps.
How many runs did Rajat Paliwal score against Delhi?
Services captain Rajat Paliwal remained unbeaten on 114 from 197 balls. He struck 10 fours and held the innings together after Services lost four wickets for 44 runs in the opening phase of the match.
Who were the leading wicket-takers for Delhi against Services?
Aman Chaudhary led Delhi’s bowling with four wickets for 79 runs from 31 overs. Navdeep Saini took three wickets for 61, while Hrithik Shokeen claimed two for 61. Dev Lakra took the other wicket.
How did Services recover after losing early wickets?
Services slipped to 44 for four after losing Shubham Rohilla, Ravi Chauhan, Vineet Dhankhar and Nitin Tanwar. Captain Rajat Paliwal then anchored the recovery, with Mohit Ahlawat scoring 33 and Pulkit Narang contributing 30 as the side reached 266.
Who won the toss in the Delhi vs Services Ranji Trophy match?
Services captain Rajat Paliwal won the toss and chose to bat first at the Airforce Complex Ground, Palam, in New Delhi. Services were dismissed for 266 on the opening day, leaving Delhi to begin their reply on the second day.
Where and when was the Delhi vs Services Ranji Trophy match played?
The Delhi versus Services Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match began on Monday, November 2, 2026, at the Airforce Complex Ground in Palam, New Delhi. It is a four-day first-class fixture scheduled from November 2 to 5.