Rohit, Chandan steady Hyderabad

Hyderabad: With the relegation threat hanging over their heads, Hyderabad batters dug deep for the first time this season to take their side to a comfortable 247 for four at stumps on the first day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group B league match against Delhi at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Southpaw Rohit Rayudu hit a patient unbeaten 90 (197 balls, 4x8, 6x1) and put on a crucial 132-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Chandan Sahani 67 (126b, 4x5, 6x3) to steady the innings after a couple of quick blows in the post lunch session.
Both Rohit and Santosh Goud (10 batting; 43b, 1x4) survived some anxious moments in the closing stages of the day when Delhi skipper Yash Dhull, who returned to lead the side in place of Himmat Singh after pulling out from the last game against Mumbai, took the new ball after 87.1 overs. But the Hyderabad batters kept their nerves to see the day through.
Despite being at the bottom of the table with just one point, the Hyderabad team management continued with their ‘experimentation’. They handed out debuts to two players - S Praneeth Raj and Shashank Lokesh - and surprisingly dropped all-rounder T Ravi Teja (179 runs and 18 wickets in 6 matches) for the game.
Earlier, after electing to bat, Hyderabad openers Tanmay Agarwal and Rahul Radesh survived some anxious moments as Delhi pace bowlers Harshit Rana, Divij Mehra and Pranshu Vijayran tested them. Skipper Agarwal (23; 71b, 4x3), who had a lucky escape when he was dropped at first slip by Himmat before opening his account, departed nicking one to Himmat, who made no mistake this time around, at second slip off Pranshu when the team total was 55.
Hyderabad, who were at 81 for one at lunch suffered two quick blows when Divij struck twice in the same over to reduce the side to 90 for three by dismissing Radesh (41; 102b, 4x4) and K Nitesh Reddy (0) - both caught by wicket-keeper Anuj Rawat in the third over after the break.
Rohit and Chandan came together with Hyderabad in trouble at 90 for three. The duo started cautiously, before going for their shots during the evening session.