NEW DELHI: On a chilly Tuesday morning, the buzz outside the Arun Jaitley Stadium wasn’t limited to the media. Fans, too, braved the cold, assembling to welcome Virat Kohli back to the domestic circuit.
This match marks his return to the Ranji Trophy after more than a decade, with his last appearance for Delhi against Uttar Pradesh dating back to 2012. For Kohli, it was more than a comeback—it was a homecoming.
The day kicked off with Kohli donning Delhi’s practice kit and stepping onto the field for a light football session. His incredible footwork and ball control stole the show and his vibrant camaraderie with his teammates was a treat to watch for everyone.
“Bhaiya, idhar pass do! Bhaiya, hit it hard! Pass, pass!” The lively calls echoed as Kohli stepped onto the field with his teammates. His infectious energy lifted the mood—arms draped over shoulders, smiles shared, and laughter spreading effortlessly. With cheers growing louder and every goal celebrated with enthusiasm, the historic venue was buzzing!
After an entertaining 30-minute football session, Kohli returned to the dressing room, draping a white sweater over his shoulders as he carried his kit.
It was time for the serious business to begin.
Kohli prepared for an intense practice session. He took out his cricket gear, and while getting ready he was engaged in a light-hearted conversation with Delhi team manager Mahesh Bhati.
The 36-year-old began his batting session with some throwdowns to find his rhythm before the spinners were introduced. Two left-arm spinners, Harsh Tyagi and Sumit Mathur, along with off-spinner Shivam Sharma, were assigned to bowl to Kohli.
Against them, Kohli displayed his full range of strokes — backfoot punches, elegant flicks, solid forward defences, and sharp cuts.
Head coach Sarandeep Singh closely observed, consistently praising the batter with words of encouragement: “Shabash, Virat! Oh, well played! Superb shot!”
The standout moment of the session came when Kohli danced down the track and launched one of Tyagi’s deliveries straight over his head, the ball hitting hard into the sightscreen. The small crowd watching from afar erupted in applause.
While Tyagi did manage to trouble Kohli a couple of times, the two majestic sixes over the bowler’s head left no doubt — Kohli was in the zone, ready to dominate.
Kohli spent half an hour tackling the spinners before moving to the adjacent strip to face the pacers.
The roster featured a mix of five bowlers, both left-arm and right-arm, ensuring a challenging session. Among them were India pacer Navdeep Saini, along with Money Grewal, Rahul Gehlot, Siddhant Sharma, and Mayank Gusain, all assigned to test Kohli’s skills against pace.
The post-afternoon session saw Kohli back on the field, this time sporting shorts.
Positioned as one of the three slip fielders, Kohli remained sharp and alert throughout. When a ball came a few yards away from him, his exceptional footwork came into play as he dived to his right, pulling off a stunning catch. Kohli didn’t drop a single chance, confidently holding onto every catch sent his way.
As the session concluded, Kohli joined his teammates for a jog around the ground, wrapping up with some photo sessions before heading back to the dressing room.
With the much-anticipated Ranji Trophy clash set to begin on January 30 at his home ground, Kohli’s return to domestic cricket after more than a decade promises to be a memorable occasion for Delhi fans.