Category: Sports

Virat Kohli made a stunning return to domestic cricket after 12 years, and fans went wild at the Arun Jaitley Stadium! He played for Delhi in a Ranji Trophy match against Railways, bringing in huge crowds. People lined up outside the stadium starting from the night before just to catch a glimpse of their hero; thousands of fans were there cheering for him.

During the match, journalist Rohit Juglan revealed Kohli would be having lunch at the stadium canteen, where chilli paneer was on the menu. It wasn’t a fancy meal, but fans ate it up as a fun detail about their star player. In an interview with Revsportz, Sanjay Jha, who cooks for Kohli, shared that Kohli wanted to eat only from the canteen, saying, “No, not from outside. I’ll have lunch from the canteen.”

The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) expected around 10,000 fans for the game, which is already high for a Ranji Trophy match. But Kohli’s star power drew in even more fans, leading many to queue up outside. A former India cricketer remarked that he had never seen such interest in domestic cricket before, all thanks to Kohli.

The excitement caused officials to allow more fans into the ground by opening extra seating. The original stand had a capacity of 6,000, but due to overwhelming demand, they opened up another stand that could hold 11,000 people. DDCA Secretary Ashok Sharma mentioned he’d never seen such a large crowd for a Ranji Trophy game in over 30 years of involvement in Delhi cricket, showcasing Kohli’s unmatched popularity.

As fans flooded in, it became hectic when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s convoy passed the stadium. Police instructed officials to open another stand to keep everything organized.

Excitement filled the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Thursday, with fans arriving as early as 5 AM to see cricket star Virat Kohli play in the Ranji Trophy. Kohli, who hadn’t played domestic cricket in over 12 years, confirmed he would join Delhi’s team for their final league match against Railways. To celebrate this big moment, the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) made entry free for fans, who only needed to show their Aadhar Cards. The energy was high, and fans excitedly chanted “RCB, RCB” because Kohli plays for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League.

Fans lined up for hours to watch the match. Kohli wants to improve his red-ball game after struggling in Test matches lately. Since 2020, he has played 39 Tests but scored only 2,028 runs at an average of 30.72, which is much lower than his usual performance. He has hit just three centuries, with his highest score being 186. During the current World Test Championship, his performance has also been disappointing, with only 751 runs in 14 matches.

Kohli trained hard with his Delhi teammates under captain Ayush Badoni and head coach Sarandeep Singh. He focused on improving his footwork and getting better against spin bowlers. Kohli shared good times with the players who looked up to him as a kid. His dedication showed that he is serious about getting back to his best in Test cricket.

On a special Thursday in Australia, Afghanistan’s women cricketers played their first match since escaping the Taliban three years ago. Captain Nahida Sapan hopes this game will inspire change for women everywhere.

In August 2021, when the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, many female athletes had to flee the country. They faced strict rules that stopped them from playing sports and getting an education. Most of the women from the national cricket team settled in Australia, where they got together for the first time to play a charity match in Melbourne.

“We’re not just a team; we’re a movement for change,” Captain Sapan shared before the game. “We have big dreams for this match because it can help Afghan women have better education and opportunities in sports.”

In November 2020, the Afghanistan Cricket Board began offering contracts to 25 talented women cricketers. Sadly, before they could play together, the Taliban took control of Kabul and banned women from cricket.

Cricketer Firooza Amiri expressed how special it was to be back with her teammates after losing so much in Afghanistan. “We’re here to represent millions of Afghan women who are denied their rights,” she said.

Of the 25 women who had contracts, 22 now live in Melbourne and Canberra. Some players want to create a refugee team with official support from the International Cricket Council (ICC). They hope this will allow all Afghan women to unite and represent their country, as expressed in a letter they wrote last year.

Unfortunately, the ICC has not responded to their requests. The charity match took place at Melbourne’s Junction Oval, a famous cricket ground. The Afghan team played against a representative team from Cricket Without Borders, which encourages young women to get involved in cricket.

Cricket Australia has supported this match and promised to promote the Afghan women’s team on bigger stages. “I am extremely proud of everyone in Australian cricket who has helped the players since they arrived here,” said Cricket Australia’s chief Nick Hockley.

Due to human rights issues, Australia has not played several matches against the male Afghan cricket team in recent years.

Former Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli is about to play in his first domestic match since 2012! He will join the Delhi team for their last Ranji Trophy game of the 2024/25 season against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Although Delhi is not going to the next round, many fans are excited to see Kohli back in action, making this a special event.

Kohli recently practiced in Alibaug with former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar before heading to Delhi. He focused on improving his batting skills, especially since he has faced some criticism for his performance in India’s last two Test series. Kohli had a great time and enjoyed being with his new teammates.

Despite being a huge star, Kohli remains down-to-earth. Delhi’s team manager, Mahesh Bhati, who coached Kohli when he was a young player, shared a funny story. During practice, even though he was offered help, Kohli carried his own kit bag. Bhati explained, “He is still the same Virat for everyone.” Kohli said, “It’s my gear; I’ll carry it myself,” showing that he hasn’t changed much.

Bhati also talked about the fun they had joking together during practice. They reminisced about the past, and Kohli even asked, “Don’t boys play on matting anymore?” to which Bhati laughed and responded, “You won’t find matting anywhere in Delhi anymore.” Kohli remembered how much fun it was to play on mats and how enjoyable hitting pull shots felt!

New Delhi: After being away for 12 years, Virat Kohli returned to play for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy, and it felt like he had never left. When he arrived at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, everyone could feel a special energy in the air. The buzz among the staff and media was different, especially for those who have been in cricket for a long time.

Kohli arrived on time, showing the kind of discipline the team hasn’t seen in years. The practice on Tuesday was full of excitement and focus, much different from the usual routine. Delhi, currently sixth in their group, has a match against Railways coming up, and suddenly everyone’s paying attention.

The practice started with the team warming up and playing football. Kohli reconnected with Mahesh Bhati, the team’s manager, who had seen him grow as a player. Kohli was focused during his batting practice, working with younger players like Ayush Badoni. He faced different bowlers, spending time on his timing and footwork.

During the practice, Kohli focused on avoiding getting out and practiced how to handle the ball better. Many people watched, including an eight-year-old boy named Kabir. Kabir’s father, who played cricket with Kohli in their younger days, encouraged his son to learn from the star. After practice, Kohli took time to talk to Kabir and signed his drawing, telling him to do his best.

Kohli finished his training by joining his teammates for catching practice. This is the last Ranji game of the season for Delhi, and it’s uncertain if Kohli will continue to support his home team in the future. But this week, his return to the Ranji Trophy is a reminder of how much he can inspire young players.

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

Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin shared his thoughts on why England is struggling in the ongoing T20 series against India. He pointed out that the English players didn’t understand the Indian pitches well and that only Jos Buttler really tried to fight back. The England openers and middle-order hitters like Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone have not performed well.

Ashwin compared England’s batting to driving in Bengaluru traffic. He explained, “England has not played well. They made many mistakes. In India, you can’t always go fast. If you’re driving in Bengaluru, you can’t stay in fourth gear all the time (laughs).”

In the second T20I match at Chepauk, England didn’t adjust to the slow pitch, kept playing aggressively, and missed out on scoring enough runs after losing wickets too quickly.

Ashwin also praised India’s fearless batting style under captain Suryakumar Yadav but reminded them to be mindful of the pitch conditions. He said, “Being fearless is good, especially in the powerplay. But you must respect the conditions. Not every situation is suitable for aggressive batting. Remember, the conditions matter in cricket.”

As England prepares for the next match, they have announced their lineup a day before the game again. With the series on the line, the third T20I is very important for them. Led by Jos Buttler, England lost badly in the first match but fought back better in Chennai.

Veteran Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin recently shared his thoughts on England’s batting during the T20I series against India. He pointed out some mistakes that led to England’s losses in the first two matches. The English batters struggled to adapt to the Indian pitches, with only Jos Buttler showing some good performance in the middle of the order. The openers did not perform well, and neither did power hitters like Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone.

Ashwin compared England’s batting style to driving a car in Bengaluru traffic. He explained, “England has played incomplete cricket. They made several mistakes. In India, you can’t play the same way all the time. If you’re driving in Bengaluru traffic, you can’t always go fast. Sometimes, you can’t even shift into a higher gear!” he joked on his YouTube channel.

In the second T20I at Chepauk, England did not read the slow pitch well. They continued to play aggressively but ended up scoring 15-20 runs less than they needed due to regular wicket losses.

Ashwin also talked about India’s batting style under their captain Suryakumar Yadav. He said, “India’s fearless approach is good, especially during the powerplay. But it’s important to respect the playing conditions because not every match will be perfect for aggressive batting. In cricket, the conditions matter the most.”

England has continued announcing their playing XI a day before each T20I. After losing the first two matches, the team is close to being out of the series, but they stuck to the same team from the last match. The third T20I will be very important for them. The team, led by Jos Buttler, lost badly in the first game but put up a better fight in the second match in Chennai.

Mitchell Owen is flying high after scoring an amazing century that helped the Hobart Hurricanes win their first Big Bash League title. He hit 108 runs off just 42 balls, helping his team chase down 183 runs set by the Sydney Thunder. The win took place at Bellerive Oval, with excited fans cheering him on.

Owen reached his century in just 39 balls, matching the record for the fastest century in Big Bash history! After the game, Hurricanes captain Nathan Ellis praised Owen, saying it was a special moment for him. Ellis believes that this tournament will change Owen’s life and open great opportunities, especially in white-ball cricket around the world.

At just 23 years old, Owen was not known much before this season but has impressed everyone with his performance. He is the only player to score two centuries in this season and has made a total of 452 runs with an average of 45.20, surpassing big names like David Warner.

Australia’s cricket selectors are keen on finding new talent as the next T20 World Cup is coming up in just over a year. Owen thanked his captain Ellis and coach Jeff Vaughan for their support. He expressed that he was focused when he batted and was happy that he could help his team win.

“It’s a dream come true,” Owen said. “I wanted to lift that trophy and win without making it too stressful for my team.”

Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina recently shared his thoughts on playing with star batter Virat Kohli. Raina explained that he loved fielding alongside Virat because of his strong passion and determination to win. In an interview with Star Sports, Raina said that Virat is always “switched on” and practices with a fierce attitude that says, “We won’t stop until we succeed.”

Raina emphasized how different Virat’s mindset is. He added that Virat is a great teammate because, when things get tough, he’s the first to encourage everyone to keep fighting and working hard. Raina noted, “I really enjoyed fielding with him because when he’s diving for the ball, everyone feels more motivated.”

Now, Virat is getting ready to train with the Delhi team for his first Ranji Trophy appearance since 2012, which starts on January 30. Delhi’s coach, Sarandeep Singh, confirmed that Virat will join the team for their match against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Recently, the Board of Control for Cricket in India decided that Indian international stars should take part in domestic cricket more often. Photos of Virat practicing with former coach Sanjay Bangar have appeared on social media.

The last round of Ranji Trophy matches will end on February 2, just before India’s ODI series against England. Virat has an impressive record in First-Class cricket, with 11,479 runs in 155 matches. However, his performance in Test matches has been a bit disappointing since 2020, with an average of just 30.72 in 39 matches. In 10 Tests last year, he only scored 417 runs, ending a tough year for him.