Kohli shines in his first domestic match in 12 years.©(@mufaddal_vohra )
Thousands of cricket fans packed the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi as Virat Kohli returned to domestic cricket after a 12-year hiatus. The 36-year-old batting maestro made his much-anticipated comeback on Thursday, representing Delhi in the Ranji Trophy match against Railways. Kohli’s return to domestic cricket follows a directive from the national cricket board encouraging contracted players to participate in the domestic circuit after India’s 3-1 loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
This rare appearance comes during a challenging phase in Kohli’s Test career, where the former Indian captain has struggled to maintain his once-consistent form. Known as one of India’s greatest batters, Kohli has amassed over 27,000 international runs across formats, redefining modern cricket with his aggressive yet technically sound approach. However, Kohli’s performance in red-ball cricket has recently declined significantly. His Test average, which stood at 54.97 until 2019, dropped to 30.72 since 2020 and dipped to 22.47 in his last 10 matches. With an average of 23.2 in 2024, Kohli ranks among the lowest-performing Test players, with at least 10 innings in the year.
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The star batter’s return to the Ranji Trophy has generated immense excitement among fans and analysts alike, with many hoping it will reignite Kohli’s form ahead of key international fixtures. The anticipation was palpable as fans thronged the stadium on Tuesday, even during Kohli’s practice session with his Delhi teammates. Reports highlighted that even TV and YouTube journalists—an unusual presence at domestic matches—were on site, capturing Kohli as he trained with his teammates, engaged in football drills, shared laughter, and worked on his batting in the nets.
For Thursday’s match, fans queued for hours outside the stadium, where entry was made free to accommodate the overwhelming demand. Akash Kumar, a fan who waited nearly five hours to get in, said he had never witnessed such enthusiasm for a domestic game. Delhi’s captain, Ayush Badoni, expressed his team’s excitement and motivation at having Kohli in the squad. On the opposing side, Railways captain Pratham Singh called it inspiring to play against a cricketing legend, adding that Kohli’s presence motivated his team to perform even better.
Although Kohli’s batting remains the main attraction, fans must wait to see him in action as Delhi opted to bowl instead after winning the toss. This Ranji Trophy season, from January 5 to March 10, features 32 teams vying for domestic cricket glory. Kohli’s first domestic appearance dates back to 2006, when he debuted at just 18 years old, scoring 10 runs in his maiden match. Over the next six years, Virat Kohli scored five centuries and as many fifties for Delhi before transitioning into a full-time international cricketer in 2012.
The buzz around Kohli’s return underscores his unparalleled influence on the game, as fans and experts eagerly await signs of the cricketing icon’s resurgence.
