January 31, 2025: Virat Kohli’s highly anticipated return to the Ranji Trophy was short-lived, as the Indian cricket superstar was dismissed for just six runs during Delhi’s clash against Railways on Friday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
The crowd at the stadium, eager to witness Kohli’s brilliance after his extended break from domestic cricket, saw a glimpse of his class when he played a beautiful straight drive off the bowler Himanshu Sangwan. However, Kohli’s stay at the crease was cut short when Sangwan delivered a sharp ball angled in on a full length outside off. Kohli attempted a drive but left a gap between his bat and pad, and the ball seamed in quickly, clipping the off-stump and sending the bails flying.
Kohli’s brief innings lasted just 15 deliveries and included one boundary. His dismissal left Delhi at 87/3, still trailing Railways by 140 runs. For the thousands of fans who had packed the stadium hoping for a vintage Kohli performance, the wicket was a moment of disappointment.
While his first innings was over before it truly began, there remains hope for a second chance. Should Delhi get a second innings, Kohli will have the opportunity to make up for the early exit and deliver the kind of performance his fans have been waiting for.
The atmosphere at the stadium had been electric from the start, with fans eagerly awaiting Kohli’s return to domestic cricket. The match also witnessed a unique moment when a fan breached security and ran onto the field to meet Kohli, even touching his feet before being escorted off by security. Kohli, known for his calm and composed nature, reportedly requested that security go easy on the fan and not treat him harshly.
Despite the brief nature of his innings, Kohli’s return to the domestic circuit has already made waves, with his presence alone drawing large crowds and creating buzz, a testament to the star power he commands.