New Delhi: Virat Kohli has made a highly anticipated return to the Ranji Trophy after a 12-year absence, opting to play as a senior member rather than leading the Delhi squad. Instead, Ayush Badoni continues as captain, while Kohli focuses on regaining form at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, the venue where he made his first-class debut in 2006.
Kohli’s return has sparked excitement among fans, with large crowds gathering to watch him train. Arriving at 9:30 AM, he went through an extensive warm-up, including a football drill and 100-meter sprints, before beginning an intense 55-minute net session. The former Indian captain focused on his backfoot play, an aspect that has taken a backseat due to his recent front-foot-heavy batting approach.
Focused Training Session Before the Match
Kohli started with 15 minutes of throwdowns, using a thinner bat to refine his technique. He then faced spin for 20 minutes against left-armers Harsh Tyagi and Sumit Mathur, along with off-spinner Sumit Sharma. While Tyagi managed to beat him twice, Kohli largely appeared solid. He then switched to pace practice, where right-arm pacers and left-arm seamer Siddhant Sharma tested him. Siddhant troubled Kohli twice with deliveries moving away, prompting Delhi coach Sarandeep Singh to advise him to take a middle and off-stump guard, which immediately helped him connect better.
Among the spectators was eight-year-old Kabir, whose father Shawej Khan played alongside Kohli in age-group cricket. After the session, Kohli warmly reunited with Shawej and signed Kabir’s bat, sharing a nostalgic moment with his former teammate.
BCCI and JioCinema to Stream Delhi vs Railways Live
Initially, Kohli’s match was not included in BCCI’s live streaming schedule, with the focus set on fixtures like Karnataka vs Haryana (featuring KL Rahul), Punjab vs Bengal, and Baroda vs Jammu and Kashmir. However, after a massive social media backlash, BCCI and JioCinema announced a last-minute decision to stream the match live, ensuring fans across India can watch Kohli’s comeback.
A BCCI official, speaking anonymously, confirmed: “A decision has been taken, and JioCinema will live-stream the game. So all Virat Kohli fans who are not in Delhi need not worry. They can watch their favorite player live.”
Kohli’s Ranji Career and Recent Form
Kohli last played a Ranji Trophy match in November 2012 against Uttar Pradesh, where he scored 14 and 42, both times dismissed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Since making his debut in 2006/07, he has played 23 Ranji matches, amassing 1,573 runs at an average of 50.77, with five centuries and six fifties.
Delhi, currently sixth in Group D, is struggling with one win, two losses, and three draws. Kohli’s experience is expected to be crucial after their recent 10-wicket defeat to Saurashtra, where Ravindra Jadeja’s 12-wicket haul proved decisive.
On the international front, Kohli’s Test performances have dipped since 2020, averaging 30.72 with three centuries in 39 matches. He finished the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle with 751 runs at an average of 32.65, including a poor 2023 run of 417 runs in 10 Tests (avg. 24.52).
This Ranji stint is a key step for Kohli to refine his game, potentially setting the stage for a resurgence. As fans eagerly tune in, all eyes will be on whether the Delhi veteran can rediscover his rhythm and dominate domestic cricket once again.
