In a highly anticipated comeback, cricket superstar Virat Kohli returned to domestic red-ball cricket on January 30th,2025, representing Delhi in the Ranji Trophy against Railways. Virat has set foot on domestic cricket after almost 13 years, which generates a wave of excitement among fans and cricket enthusiasts. The ambience at the stadium was electrifying, with thousands of supporters excited to witness Virat’s homecoming.

The Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) had projected a crowd of around 10,000, which is rather a remarkable number for domestic cricket like Ranji, underscoring Kohli’s immense popularity.

Kohli’s Performance in the Match

As the match commenced, all eyes were on Kohli, who had not played red-ball cricket since 2012. However, the day took a disappointed turn, when Virat was dismissed for just 6 runs in 15 balls. The moment was bittersweet, as cheers of fans quickly turned into gasps, leaving the supporters heartbroken. They watched Virat walking back to the pavilion.

Why did Kohli Return in Ranji?

In early 2024, the BCCI had insisted on contracted cricketers to be available for domestic cricket like Duleep Trophy and Ranji Trophy. Although later Jay Shah explained, ” we should not insist on players like Rohit and Virat to play in domestic cricket as they will risk injuries.” But the problem arose with the consistent poor performance in Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

In the aftermath, the BCCI announced a list of mandates for international cricketers. Playing domestic cricket is now mandatory for players to remain eligible for the selection in the national team.