New Delhi, Nov. 9: A buoyant Delhi return to home turf ready to take on Karnataka in their second Ranji Trophy Super League Group B match from Tuesday. After ending last season at a disappointing fourth position on the Super League table, Delhi began on a positive note by securing first-innings points at Baroda.

Delhi cricket has been in turmoil over the last few months with senior players voicing their displeasure over selection issues. A good start in their Ranji campaign has however calmed nerves in the team and the focus is solely now on cricket.

The 2007-08 Ranji champions just had three centuries over the last season and as a result notched up only two victories in seven matches. Coach Vijay Dahiya rued the fact that his batsmen failed to convert their starts into bigger scores for the team.

In that context, this season has started well with vice-captain Shikhar Dhawan notching up a double century — his maiden first-class double ton — while the rest of the batsmen chipped in to pile up a massive 591 against Baroda.

The former champions didn’t feel the absence of top players like Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli and Ashish Nehra and tested Baroda almost till the end. "It was great to get off to a good start in the season. Scoring a double century early in the season but I am not thinking too far ahead. I want to take it match-by-match and perform in all the games for Delhi," Dhawan said.

While the batting looks safe on a docile Roshanara Club track, it is the bowling which should concern the Delhi side. While paceman Sumit Narwal was impressive in his five-wicket haul, the rest of the Delhi attack looked quite pedestrian and failed to bowl out Baroda twice after the home side had followed-on.

Karnataka, on the other hand, are pumped up after mauling Uttar Pradesh by 185 runs in their opening match. The batting led by Manish Pandey’s 194 was scintillating while Rahul Dravid looked in fine touch hammering 97 and a 44-ball 51 in the match.

Karnataka, like Delhi, will miss the services of swashbuckling opener Robin Uthappa with the 23-year-old C.M. Gautam likely to replace him in the line-up.

With the India-Sri Lanka three-match Test series looming, Karnataka skipper Dravid will be looking to make the most of the final tune-up ahead of bigger challenges.