Virat Kohli’s Return to Ranji Trophy Confirmed
Virat Kohli is all set to return to the Ranji Trophy after a gap of 12 years. The star cricketer will represent Delhi in their upcoming match against Railways starting on January 30. Kohli missed Delhi’s previous match against Saurashtra on January 23 due to neck stiffness, but the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has confirmed his availability for the next game.
“Virat Kohli will play the Ranji Trophy match against Railways on January 30. He wasn’t part of the last match due to neck stiffness. We are thrilled that he has decided to represent Delhi after so many years,” said a DDCA source.
Kohli’s Ranji Journey So Far
Kohli has played 23 Ranji Trophy matches for Delhi, scoring 1574 runs at an impressive average of 50.77. This includes five centuries, with his best season being 2009-10, where he scored 374 runs in just three matches at an average of 93.50. Kohli’s last Ranji match was in the 2012-13 season against Uttar Pradesh, where he scored 57 runs.
One of the most emotional moments of Kohli’s career came in 2006 during a Ranji match against Karnataka at the Arun Jaitley Stadium (formerly Feroz Shah Kotla). While batting, Kohli received the heartbreaking news of his father’s passing. Despite the tragedy, he returned to the field the next day and scored a crucial 90 runs for Delhi before attending his father’s funeral.
Challenges in Recent Test Cricket
In recent years, Kohli has struggled with consistency in Test cricket. Although he scored a century in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in Perth, his overall performance in the series was below expectations, managing only 190 runs in five matches. A recurring issue with chasing deliveries outside the off-stump led to similar dismissals throughout the series, highlighting a technical flaw in his batting.
Over the past four years, Kohli has scored just three Test centuries, falling behind contemporaries like Kane Williamson, Steve Smith, and Joe Root in the ‘Fab Four.’ Kohli has been included in the squad for the upcoming ODI series against England and the ICC Champions Trophy, where fans are hoping to see him regain his form.
BCCI’s Directive for Domestic Cricket
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently introduced a 10-point guideline mandating participation in domestic cricket for centrally contracted players. According to the directive, players must feature in domestic tournaments to remain eligible for national selection and retain their central contracts.
“Playing domestic cricket is compulsory for all players to stay connected with the domestic ecosystem, maintain match fitness, and inspire upcoming talent. Any exceptions require prior approval from the Chairman of the Selection Committee,” the BCCI stated.
Non-compliance with the directive can lead to strict action, including a ban from tournaments like the IPL or deductions from players’ retainer amounts and match fees. This policy has led to players like Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal confirming their availability for the Ranji Trophy.
With Virat Kohli’s return to the Ranji Trophy, fans are eagerly waiting to see him back in action in the domestic circuit and hoping it will pave the way for his resurgence on the international stage.
