NEW DELHI: Indian cricketing stalwart Virat Kohli is set to make his eagerly awaited return to domestic cricket as he takes the field for Delhi in their final Ranji Trophy group-stage match.
This will mark his first appearance in the competition since November 2012, after a hiatus from domestic cricket to focus on international duties.
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As reported earlier by TimesofIndia.com, Kohli’s participation comes after fruitful discussions with Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) president Rohan Jaitley and is seen as a crucial step in his preparation for upcoming national commitments.
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Initially understood to be named in Delhi’s squad for a match against Saurashtra, Kohli saw a neck sprain delaying his return to domestic cricket.
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However, as confirmed by TimesofIndia.com, the 36-year-old is now ready to feature in the Ranji Trophy group-stage game against Railways, scheduled for January 30 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Kohli’s last Ranji Trophy appearance was over a decade ago, during a match against Uttar Pradesh, where he scored 14 runs in the first innings and 43 in the second.
Despite his contributions, Delhi went down to UP by six wickets.
At the time, Kohli had already established his presence on the international scene, but his domestic cricket career took a backseat to his growing international commitments.
Recent scrutiny over his Test form, after a comparatively lean stint in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, has led to questions about his technique.
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Nonetheless, Kohli will see the return to domestic cricket as an important opportunity to regain his form before India’s upcoming ODI series against England and the all-important ICC Champions Trophy.