Virat Kohli never missed a chance to entertain crowd with his evergreen on-field antics and he did exactly the same on his highly-anticipated Ranji Trophy return after 12 long years. Batting superstar Virat Kohli entertained the spectators to the hilt at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on the opening day of the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Railways. After Ayush Badoni won the toss and elected to field first, Kohli took to the field to a roaring welcome. Throughout the day, the former Indian captain engaged with the enthusiastic fans who filled the stands in huge numbers.
Virat Kohli sends fans into fun contest during Ranji Trophy clash
During Railways' innings, Kohli, hearing the cheers for him, playfully interacted with the crowd. In a video circulating on social media, he can be seen initiating a fun contest between different sections of the stadium, attempting to judge which group was cheering the loudest.
At one point, Kohli playfully trolled a section of the crowd whose cheers he deemed insufficiently enthusiastic. He humorously questioned whether they had eaten, suggesting their lack of energy was due to hunger.
Watch the video here:
Virat Kohli's appearance in this Ranji Trophy match marked his return to India's premier first-class competition after a considerable hiatus of 1w years. His last Ranji Trophy game was back in November 2012, when he represented Delhi against Uttar Pradesh in Ghaziabad.
Kohli's return to play for his state team was a cause for celebration, drawing an unprecedented number of fans to the stadium.
Despite the Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) not opening all the stands, reports indicate that over 15,000 spectators were present on the first day of play, demonstrating the immense interest generated by Kohli's presence.
Anticipation is building for the second day's play, with even larger crowds expected to witness Virat Kohli take to the crease. At the end of the first day, Delhi's score stands at 41 for 1, with Yash Dayal and Sanat Sangwan at the crease. Kohli, the 36-year-old star batsman, is slated to bat at number four. Earlier in the day, Railways were dismissed for a total of 241 runs. Upendra Yadav provided a lone resistance for his team, scoring a resilient 95 runs.