For many young cricketers in Delhi, meeting Virat Kohli is a dream come true. Except for Navdeep Saini, no one on the Delhi team has shared a dressing room with the superstar. When Kohli came back to play a first-class game for the first time since 2012, everyone was thrilled. The streets around the Feroz Shah Kotla Ground buzzed with excitement before the Ranji Trophy match against Railways.
Usually, not many people attend Ranji Trophy matches, but Kohli’s presence brought in a crowd. Even during practice, excitement was in the air. Kohli told the young players to show their Delhi spirit and play confidently despite having a tough season. Delhi is currently in 6th place with only 14 points, so they can’t qualify for the next rounds, but finishing strong would be a great goal, especially with Kohli in the team.
How was Kohli’s first practice session with Delhi after 12 years? For the younger players, it was a memorable moment, but for Kohli, it felt like just another day. He kicked things off with a 35-minute warm-up, including a bit of football and some light sprints.
When it was time for batting practice, Kohli encouraged captain Ayush Badoni to continue batting before it was his turn. He practiced for almost an hour, focusing on pull shots, and then faced some spinners and fast bowlers. Kohli looked very comfortable, especially as he worked on playing balls close to the line. With the Champions Trophy coming up, this was good practice for him.
Kohli appreciated the quality of the practice pitches, giving credit to the young curator. After the practice, he said he enjoyed batting and wanted to come back the next day, making it an exciting time for everyone involved
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