Star Indian batter Virat Kohli made his much-anticipated return to the Ranji Trophy after nearly 13 years, joining the Delhi squad for their final league match of the 2024-25 season against Railways.
As news of Kohli’s participation spread, excitement among fans soared, prompting the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) to arrange an additional 10,000 seats for spectators.
On January 30, the Arun Jaitley Stadium witnessed an extraordinary turnout for a Ranji game, with fans queuing up outside the venue as early as 5 AM.
Delhi won the toss and elected to bat first. While Kohli was positioned at second slip, a fan breached security and ran onto the field to touch his feet. Security personnel swiftly intervened, but Kohli was seen requesting them to handle the situation gently.
Following his Ranji Trophy appearance, Kohli will shift focus to the upcoming ODI series against England, a crucial preparatory phase ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
The 36-year-old has been searching for form, having managed just 190 runs in his last nine Test innings. His struggles were evident in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where India suffered a 3-1 defeat.
Kohli’s participation in the domestic circuit aligns with the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) mandatory guidelines, emphasizing the importance of domestic exposure before international assignments.
The new policy, which has stirred discussions among players, also includes restrictions on cricketers traveling with their spouses and partners during tours, along with curbing brand endorsements during ongoing series.