Mohit Ahlawat’s journey in domestic cricket started with Delhi under Gautam Gambhir’s captaincy back in the 2015-16 season. After three Ranji Trophy matches without success, Ahlawat was consigned to the wilderness. An entry into the Indian Navy resulted in Services offering a cricketing lifeline three seasons later.
Life seemed to come full circle for the 30-year-old on Wednesday when he scored his maiden First Class century for Services on day three of the Elite Group-C joust against his former team at the Airforce Complex Ground in Palam. Ahlawat’s 142 took just 150 balls and contained seven maximums as Services reached 280 for five in its second innings. It ended the day with a lead of 202 runs.
It was a stirring fightback by the visitors once Delhi, which resumed on 299 for six, was bundled out for 344 for a first-innings lead of 78 runs. For Ayush Badoni’s side, Sumit Mathur was agonisingly dismissed on 99 when he cut Jayant Goyat to backward point, adding just 19 runs to his overnight score. Goyat, a 21-year-old who stands at an imposing 6’4”, was the pick of the Services bowlers, and claimed his first five-wicket haul.
Services was in strife at 13 for two in response. While Nitin Tanwar was pinned leg-before wicket by Navdeep Saini, Shubham Rohilla shouldered arms to the pacer and saw his stumps cartwheeling.
In usual circumstances, Vineet Dhankhar would have walked out at No. 4. He was unwell, opening the door for Ahlawat to take guard and stamp his authority from the get-go.
Particularly against spin, Ahlawat was in fine flow. Not only did he step out and loft the Delhi tweakers down the ground, he also challenged their command over line by using the sweep and reverse-sweep to good effect. Ravi Chauhan (56, 105b, 6×4, 1×6) offered able company in a partnership of 126. As did Rajat Paliwal, unbeaten on 62, in an alliance of 127.
The scores: Services — 1st innings: 266.
Delhi — 1st innings: Priyansh Arya c Goyat b Arjun 58, Sanat Sangwan c Paliwal b Narang 11, Yash Dhull b Goyat 33, Ayush Badoni b Arjun 7, Ayush Doseja c Nakul b Virender 78, Anuj Rawat b Goyat 0, Sumit Mathur c (sub) b Goyat 99, Dev Lakra c Nakul b Goyat 28, Hrithik Shokeen b Arjun 6, Navdeep Saini c (sub) b Goyat 1, Aman Chaudhary (not out) 0; Extras (b-12, lb-9, nb-2): 23; Total (in 105.4 overs): 344.
Fall of wickets: 1-35, 2-114, 3-114, 4-134, 5-135, 6-279, 7-320, 8-335, 9-343
Services bowling: Narang 25-3-72-1, Virender 19-0-62-1, Goyat 23.4-4-65-5, Arjun 21-2-65-3, Tanwar 12-1-32-0, Chauhan 2-0-7-0, Dhankhar 3-1-20-0
Services — 2nd innings: Nitin Tanwar lbw b Saini 2, Shubham Rohilla b Saini 5, Ravi Chauhan b Shokeen 56, Mohit Ahlawat c Sangwan b Aman 142, Rajat Paliwal (batting) 62, Nakul Sharma c Badoni b Aman 1, Vineet Dhankhar (batting) 5; Extras (b-6, lb-1): 7; Total (for five wkts. in 66 overs): 280.
Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-13, 3-139, 4-266, 5-268.
Delhi bowling: Saini 10-0-50-2, Shokeen 13-2-45-1, Lakra 10-3-26-0, Aman 22-2-87-2, Badoni 2-0-17-0, Mathur 6-0-31-0, Priyansh 3-0-17-0.
Published – November 04, 2026 09:11 pm IST
