Virat Kohli made a highly anticipated return to the Ranji Trophy on January 30, 2025, playing for Delhi against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
This marks Kohli’s first appearance in domestic cricket in over 12 years, drawing significant attention and a full house to the stadium, a rarity for Ranji matches in recent times.
Kohli’s Comeback
Virat Kohli return comes after a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) encouraging players to participate in domestic competitions when not on national duty.
His last Ranji Trophy match was against Uttar Pradesh in November 2012, where he scored 14 and 43 runs.
Since then, he has established himself as one of the premier batsmen in international cricket, making this comeback particularly noteworthy for fans and analysts alike.
Match Context
While Delhi is already out of contention for the knockout stages of the tournament, Railways still has a chance to qualify with a victory.
As the match commenced, Delhi opted to field first, and Railways struggled early on, finding themselves at 66/5 within the first 20 overs.
Delhi’s bowlers, including Navdeep Saini and young pacer Money Grewal, made early breakthroughs, further energizing the crowd eager to see Kohli back in action.
Fan Excitement
The atmosphere at the Arun Jaitley Stadium was electric, with thousands of fans arriving early to witness Kohli’s comeback.
His presence not only attracted cricket enthusiasts but also created a buzz that led to heightened security measures around the venue.
Reports mentioned instances of fans breaching security to get closer to their idol, underscoring Kohli’s immense popularity.
Captaincy and Team Dynamics
Kohli played under the captaincy of Ayush Badoni during this match. Badoni expressed excitement about Kohli’s return, stating that his presence has motivated the entire team.
Kohli was confirmed to bat at his usual number four position, which reflects his ongoing importance to the team despite not being in contention for playoffs.
Performance Expectations
As Kohli steps back into domestic cricket, he aims to shake off some recent poor form observed in red-ball cricket.
His training sessions leading up to this match focused on refining his technique and regaining his batting consistency.
The match against Railways serves as an opportunity for him to reconnect with his roots and demonstrate his enduring skill set.
