Ranji Trophy 2019-20 | Milind Kumar parts ways with Sikkim after path-breaking season

Milind Kumar was a regular fixture in the Delhi side for seven long years after making his first-class debut against Haryana in 2011 but the failure to find a place in the side last year forced him to leave the state team for Sikkim. His vast experience was a great help for the newly-formed side as the batsman hit a couple of triple centuries in the Ranji Trophy and emerged as the highest run-getter. Although the senior national selection committee picked him for the Duleep Trophy, which begins later this month, Sportstar reported his decision of not continuing his association with Sikkim.

The Delhi-based batsman, who featured for the northeastern state as a guest player last season, has already obtained a No-Objection Certificate from the Sikkim Cricket Association (SCA). While Milind confirmed the development, he did not reveal his future plans. However, the same publication also reported that the batsman, who amassed 1,331 runs in the Ranji Trophy last year, has offers from a few northeastern states.

“We wanted to continue with Milind, but he chose to play for a different team. We can’t force a player to stay back, so we issued him an NOC,” one of the officials at SCA said.

Apart from Kumar, Sikkim has also parted ways with its other professional player Bipul Sharma but has retained Ishwar Chaudhary. It is also learnt that Sikkim has signed up domestic cricket stalwart Yashpal Singh, who played for Manipur last season, to cover up Milind's absence. 

In order to ensure the team gets proper training before the session begins, Sikkim cricketers are currently attending a special camp in Bhubaneswar under the watchful eyes of coaches and consultants Atul Gaikwad and Dinesh Nanavati.