On January 28, India's top batter Virat Kohli trained with Delhi's Ranji Trophy team at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in anticipation of his much-awaited comeback to domestic cricket. In his first tournament appearance since 2012, when he last faced Uttar Pradesh, Kohli will appear in Delhi's Ranji Trophy matchup against Railways. When he got to the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday morning, Kohli and his Delhi colleagues engaged in group running and fielding drills and even played a little football. Following the recent domestic returns of other notable players, such as India captain Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, his presence has further increased enthusiasm among the Indian cricket community.
What did Virat Kohli eat?
"Woh badlaa nahi hain. Usko chhole-poori pasand the aur humne mangaake rakhha thaa. Usne bola chole puri nahi khawoonga (He loves chhole poori, we made arrangements for him but he said he didn't want it)," a senior DDCA (Delhi and Districts Cricket Association) official told PTI.
An old favourite was what he did look for after practice on January 30, the day before his first Ranji appearance in 12 years.
"Practice ke baad purane time ki tarah kadhi chawal khaya sabke saath (He had kadhi chawal with everyone)," the official added.
Virat Kohli's grand return to domestic cricket
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has placed a renewed focus on domestic success as a key criterion for international selection, and Kohli and the other Indian stars' return to domestic cricket is in line with this. Despite missing Delhi's last game against Saurashtra because of a neck sprain, Kohli is keen to contribute in the next encounter. It is imperative that he get back to his best after suffering through a slump in Test cricket, which included difficulties during India's loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
Despite the excitement surrounding Kohli's involvement, fans may not be able to watch the match live because no telecast or live-streaming has been confirmed. However, in recognition of Kohli's star value, the BCCI has ensured that the Arun Jaitley Stadium has extra protection.