Fans are waiting with bated breath to witness their batting superstar Virat Kohli returning to Ranji Trophy fold after a long gap in Delhi. The former Indian captain will make his highly anticipated comeback when Delhi face Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in their final group-stage match on January 30. This marks Kohli's first Ranji Trophy appearance in over 12 years, his last match being against Uttar Pradesh in November 2012.
Free entry for fans for Virat Kohli's Ranji Trophy return
Anticipation is building amongst Delhi's cricket fans. The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) is making special arrangements to accommodate the expected surge in spectators. Enhanced security measures will be in place, and additional seating arrangements are being made to accommodate approximately 10,000 fans. To ensure ample space, the North End and Old Club House will be opened. DDCA has also promised to make extra arrangements on the ground floor of other stands if necessary.
But above all there will be free entry for fans for Virat Kohli's Ranji Trophy return. In a remarkable gesture, the DDCA has announced that no tickets will be sold for the match. This decision allows all cricket enthusiasts to witness this historic event free of charge.
The much-anticipated match is scheduled to kick off on January 30, marking Kohli's return to domestic cricket. This follows his earlier withdrawal from the match against Saurashtra in Rajkot due to neck stiffness. Kohli has now confirmed his availability for the Railways match, much to the delight of fans.
Kohli's return to the Ranji Trophy has generated immense excitement, not only among Delhi fans but also within the broader cricketing world.
The batting juggernaut was initially scheduled to return to domestic cricket earlier this week in Delhi's match against Saurashtra in Rajkot. However, he withdrew from the match due to neck stiffness. Despite this setback, he has confirmed his availability for the upcoming match against Railways.
Kohli's decision to return to the Ranji Trophy aligns with the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) recent mandate. The BCCI has instructed all centrally contracted Indian cricketers to participate in domestic cricket. The diktat was rolled out following India's disappointing batting show during their recent tour of Australia. In that series, Kohli scored 190 runs across nine innings. Earlier India captain Rohit Sharma, star batters Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, and Shubman Gill were also seen marking their return to domestic cricket.