Thousands of fans packed a stadium in the Indian capital, Delhi, to witness Virat Kohli's highly anticipated return to domestic cricket after more than 12 years. The 36-year-old star batsman represented Delhi on Thursday in the Ranji Trophy match against the Railways team at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Despite his exceptional career, Kohli has faced challenges in Test cricket recently, struggling to maintain consistency as a former Indian captain.
Renowned as one of India's finest batsmen, Kohli has revolutionized modern cricket with his aggressive and technically proficient batting style. Amassing over 27,000 international runs across various formats, he has been a pillar in India's middle order for over a decade.
While excelling in white-ball cricket, Kohli's performance in Test matches has shown a decline. His Test average dropped from 54.97 until 2019 to 30.72 post-2020, with a mere 22.47 in his last ten tests. Since the beginning of 2024, his average of 23.2 ranks as the ninth lowest among players with a minimum of 10 innings.
Amidst this backdrop, Kohli's return to domestic cricket has sparked significant excitement, with fans and experts eagerly anticipating whether this move will reignite his form.
Domestic cricket, comprising professional competitions within a country featuring teams representing states, regions, or clubs, like the Ranji Trophy, is typically held during the cricket season.
Despite the international cricket schedule's demands, many top players, including Kohli, often prioritize international matches and the lucrative Indian Premier League over domestic tournaments.
Kohli's return to the domestic arena already created a buzz, with supporters flocking to the stadium to watch him. The presence of media personnel outside - even TV and YouTube journalists, a rare sight before domestic games - highlighted the occasion. ESPNcricinfo reported that before the match, Kohli engaged in training with his Delhi teammates, including football drills and batting practice.
Reports of long queues forming outside the stadium emerged as fans eagerly entered to watch the game free of charge. Akash Kumar, who waited nearly five hours before the match, expressed witnessing an unprecedented crowd for a domestic game.
Delhi team captain Ayush Badoni remarked on the team's excitement and motivation upon Kohli's arrival, while opposing Railways team captain Pratham Singh found Kohli's presence inspiring, fueling their desire to perform better.
The Ranji Trophy season, scheduled from 5th January to 10th March, involves 32 teams and holds significance in India's red-ball domestic cricket circuit.
Kohli initially made his domestic debut in 2006 at the age of 18, scoring only 10 runs in his first match. During his tenure with the Delhi team in the following six years, he recorded five centuries and as many fifties, with his last domestic appearance dating back to 2012.