Former Indian captain and India’s star batter, Virat Kohli’s return to the Ranji Trophy was marked by early dismissal on Day 2 of Delhi’s match against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Thursday.
The thunderous reception from the home crowd swiftly turned into disappointment as Kohli’s batting woes persisted. He did not even touch double digits and was dismissed for six.
The stadium witnessed a mass exodus the moment Kohli was bowled out by Railways pacer Himanshu Sangwan.
After a 12-year absence from domestic cricket, Kohli was expected to stabilize Delhi’s innings following the early loss of Yash Dhull in the morning session. The packed stands roared with chants of “Kohli, Kohli” as the 36-year-old went out to bat.
However, his time at the crease was short-lived. He faced 15 balls.
After hitting a boundary off Sangwan, Kohli was dismissed by an in-swinging delivery on the very next ball, which crashed his stumps over.
Kohli’s last appearance in a Ranji Trophy match was in 2012 against Uttar Pradesh.
His return comes as part of the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) effort to encourage Indian stars to play in domestic cricket, a strategy designed to emphasise the role of first-class cricket in national team selection.
Players such as Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Yashasvi Jaiswal have all taken part in the tournament as part of this initiative.
The star batter’s form has been a growing concern, with his recent Test performances against New Zealand and Australia sparking questions about his consistency.
His return to domestic cricket was viewed as a chance to regain form ahead of India’s crucial Test series against England, but his early departure only deepened the worries.
The hype surrounding Kohli’s return to Ranji reached a fever pitch in the days leading up to the match.
Fans gathered outside the Arun Jaitley Stadium during practice sessions, eager for a glimpse of the Indian legend.
On matchday, thousands packed the stands, many waving banners and posters to celebrate Kohli’s homecoming. However, the dream scenario quickly turned to disappointment as the star batter was unable to make an impact.
Despite the early setback, Kohli will have an opportunity in Delhi’s second innings.
However, the pressure will be high, with both fans and selectors expecting a significantly better performance from the Indian batting stalwart.
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