The rarity happened at the Kotla on Thursday, 30 January, when Virat Kohli stepped in to play a Ranji fixture for Delhi after a gap of 13 years β and the free entry ensured there was a sizeable, noisy crowd at hand to make it an affair to remember. Ever since it was confirmed that Kohli will be playing the last league game for Delhi, who are now left with no chance of moving to the knockout stages, excitement had been building in the capital as well as the Indian cricket media.
The Delhi District Cricket Association DDCA had to open up three blocks at the last minute for the public while the official broadcasters drew up contingency plans for a rotational telecast of the matches. The build-up to the game was all about Kohli, though it was almost a compulsion on part of him and India captain Rohit Sharma β along with a number of other A listers of India cricket β to turn out in domestic cricket.
He had the off stump weakness at that time as well. The youngster was back at the crease, much to the amazement of his Delhi teammates, to score a resilient 90 to pull Delhi out of the woods.
There was almost a poignant quality to a video clip which went viral a day before where Kohli is asked by a kid, son of one of the Delhi teammates, on the recipe to play for India one day. The journey from being a talented and feisty young Delhi cricketer to one of the masters of the modern game has been well documented more than once. But for now, Kohli seems to be soaking in all the warmth from the fans and the DDCA hospitality β not to speak of the simple lunch menu of kadhi chawl or chilly paneer!
Join our official telegram channel nationalherald and stay updated with the latest headlines. Virat Kohli: Cricketing elite returns to warmth of local fans, kadhi chawl Ranji Trophy has often provided a vital backdrop to the twists and turns of his illustrious journey.
