In the midst of an electric atmosphere at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, where Delhi takes on Railways in the Ranji Trophy, Virat Kohli’s long-awaited return to domestic red-ball cricket ended in disappointment. The Delhi crowd, which had thronged in unprecedented numbers for a Ranji match, was left stunned as Kohli fell cheaply on Day 2.
Kohli then went on to get four, making it look effortless. However, his innings at the crease were brought short by a sharp inswinger from Himanshu Sangwan, which knocked off his stumps, dislodging Kohli. This moment hushed the whole ground, which had been loud in its jubilation just a moment earlier.
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The importance of that wicket was amply highlighted during Sangwan’s celebration. This is not exactly an easy dismissal for the Railways bowler, who gets to relish the moment every time he gets to dismiss the former India captain. Meanwhile, his fans, cheering every delivery, were left in disbelief as he walked back after managing just six off 15 deliveries.
What A knock by virat kohli another failure
Virat kohli
Kingkohli pic.twitter.com/pD2UQ2E3Sz— Narendra Kumar (@Narendr35) January 31, 2025
The excitement in the stadium was palpable even before Kohli was dismissed. Fans were on edge, eagerly anticipating the fall of a Delhi wicket so they could witness their hero take the field. The match’s first day created an atmosphere rarely felt in domestic cricket, drawing over 15,000 fans. Due to this large turnout, additional gates were opened, and security was intensified to manage the crowd.
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The excitement wasn’t limited to Kohli’s batting. During the game, an ardent fan breached security and sprinted onto the field to meet Kohli. With Delhi’s bowlers—Navdeep Saini and Siddhant Sharma—having Railways reeling at 21/3, the intruder seized the moment, reaching Kohli and touching his feet before security intervened.
Kohli, always the gracious athlete, asked officials to treat the situation kindly and not be overly harsh on the enthusiastic fan. This moment highlighted Kohli’s significant popularity and the emotional bond he has with his supporters, even during a domestic match.
