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Journalism of Courage
Virat Kohli’s return to the Ranji Trophy after more than a decade has ignited immense excitement among cricket fans, drawing fresh attention to India’s premier domestic tournament. The star batter, who last played in the competition in 2012, was named in Delhi’s starting XI for their clash against Railways.
On Thursday morning, the scene outside New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium was nothing short of extraordinary. A massive crowd had gathered well before the match, eager to witness Kohli in action. Long queues stretched for nearly two km, with fans patiently waiting for entry. Given his status as Indian cricket’s “biggest crowd-puller,” the frenzy was hardly surprising.
According to ANI sports correspondent Vipul Kashyap, more than 15,000 fans showed up to witness Kohli play a Ranji Trophy match—a momentous return after 13 years.
Virat Kohli seemed taken aback by the electrifying atmosphere at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. As Delhi’s captain, Ayush Badoni, won the toss and opted to field first against Railways, the crowd erupted in excitement the moment Kohli stepped onto the field with his teammates. The roar of the fans was deafening, a testament to their admiration for the former India captain. In a heart-felt moment, Kohli acknowledged their love, expressing his gratitude with a warm gesture.
Many school kids, too, turned up at the stadium to witness the Delhi vs Railways match.
Virat Kohli last played in the Ranji Trophy when Delhi still had former players like Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag. In that match against Uttar Pradesh, he scored 57 runs across two innings, falling to Bhuvneshwar Kumar both times.
Kohli has featured in 23 Ranji matches since his 2006 debut against Tamil Nadu, scoring 1,574 runs at an impressive average of 50.77, including five centuries. His highest score—173—came against Bengal. A stellar 2009-10 season earned him a Test call-up, and in 2011, he made his debut in whites against the West Indies.
