The return of Indian ace batter Virat Kohli to the Ranji Trophy has become the most talked-about event in domestic cricket. His comeback was highly anticipated after he missed the match against Saurashtra due to a neck strain. Now that Kohli is back and fit, he spent some time in Mumbai with his former batting coach, Sanjay Bangar, to work on his backfoot shots. A few days ago, he joined the team at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Mumbai. Upon his return to his hometown, Kohli received a fantastic reception from both fans and fellow players, many of whom view him as an inspiration.
This marks Kohli's return to the Ranji Trophy after 12 years. Since his last stint with the Delhi team, a lot has changed; he has risen through the ranks to become one of the greatest players in the world and a prominent global brand. His return to domestic cricket has sparked discussions about potential changes, including the captaincy.
Virat Kohli was offered the chance to lead the Delhi team but chose to decline, believing that a change in captaincy could disrupt the team's momentum. Ayush Badoni, who has been performing well in his role as captain, will continue to lead the team.
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Virat Kohli was part of the Delhi team when he last played in a domestic red-ball competition for the state, facing Uttar Pradesh in Ghaziabad’s Mohan Nagar back in 2012.
Virat's Experience
DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma spoke to PTI, saying, “It’s a fantastic experience for our younger players, as they’ll have the chance to share a dressing room with Virat. If you look at our team, only Navdeep Saini has played with Virat in the IPL and for India. No one else in the squad has had the opportunity to play with him in the Ranji Trophy. There’s so much they can learn just by watching him.”
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Tightened Security
When asked about security arrangements for the game, Sharma added, “Virat’s presence does raise the profile of the match. Normally, we have 10 to 12 private security personnel for a regular Ranji match, but we’ll ramp up security so Virat can train without any disruptions.”
Despite Kohli’s return, the Delhi vs Railways match will still be free for spectators, with the DDCA opening three stands at the Ambedkar Stadium End. Kohli missed Delhi’s previous match due to a neck sprain.
