In a remarkable display of enthusiasm, thousands of fans have gathered at a stadium in Delhi, the capital of India, to witness Virat Kohli‘s highly awaited return to domestic cricket after an absence of over 12 years.
In a notable appearance, the 36-year-old star batter represented Delhi on Thursday during the Ranji Trophy match against the Railways team at the bustling Arun Jaitley stadium.
Kohli’s comeback comes in response to the national cricket board’s mandate requiring contracted players to participate in domestic cricket following India’s 3-1 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.
The situation unfolds during a challenging period in Test cricket for the former Indian captain, who has faced difficulties maintaining consistency in recent years.
Virat Kohli, regarded as one of India’s finest cricketers, has transformed the landscape of contemporary cricket through his combination of aggressive play and technical proficiency. Having amassed over 27,000 international runs across various formats, he has been a crucial pillar in India’s middle order for over ten years.
However, his performance in red-ball cricket has declined in recent years. Virat Kohli boasted an impressive batting average of 54.97 in Test cricket until 2019. However, since the beginning of 2020, that figure has significantly declined, now at 30.72. In his most recent 10 Test matches, his average has plummeted to 22.47.
As of early 2024, his average of 23.2 ranks as the ninth lowest among players who have recorded at least 10 innings.
The return of Kohli to the domestic circuit has sparked significant enthusiasm, as both fans and analysts eagerly anticipate whether this decision will rejuvenate his performance.
On Tuesday, fans assembled outside the stadium following the announcement that Kohli would join the Delhi team for training in preparation for the upcoming match.
Coverage indicated that the presence of television and YouTube journalists, typically uncommon before a domestic match, was noted. “He participated in football drills with his Delhi team-mates, sharing moments of laughter and engaging in 100m sprints before heading to the batting nets,” reported ESPNcricinfo.
Reports indicate that long queues have formed outside the stadium, where fans can watch the game.
Akash Kumar informed news agency ANI that he had been positioned outside the stadium for nearly five hours before the match’s commencement, noting that he had never witnessed such a large turnout for a domestic game.
Ayush Badoni, the captain of the Delhi team, expressed that the entire squad was “excited and motivated” by Kohli’s arrival.
Pratham Singh, captain of the rival Railways team, expressed that witnessing Kohli in action was a source of inspiration for his players, and he stated that it would drive them to perform at a higher level in the upcoming match.
Fans must exercise patience before witnessing Kohli at the crease, as Delhi has opted to bowl after winning the toss.
The Ranji Trophy season in India, which is played in the red-ball format, will take place from January 5 to March 10 and will include 32 participating teams.
In 2006, at the age of 18, Kohli embarked on his domestic career, scoring only 10 runs in his inaugural match.
During his six-year tenure with the Delhi team, he scored five centuries and an equal number of fifties. He made his final domestic appearance in 2012.
