New Delhi: Indian superstar batter Virat Kohli has been named in Delhi’s probable’s list for the Ranji trophy team for the upcoming season. Star wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant has also been included in a star-studded squad. The announcement made by the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) could lead to Kohli’s potential return to the domestic circuit after a long hiatus.
The list of 84 probable players includes Kohli, Pant and Navdeep Saini, Ayush Badoni, Yash Dhull and Anuj Rawat. Meanwhile, veteran pacer Ishant Sharma who played last season is left out of the squad.
The 2024-25 season of India’s domestic cricket begins the premier competition Ranji Trophy on October 11. Delhi will open their campaign against Chhattisgarh. This is the first time since 2019 that Kohli has been named in Delhi’s probable’s squad. However, chances of Kohli playing in the Ranji look bleak as the star batter will be busy preparing for the New Zealand Test series starting October 16.
When did Kohli last played in Ranji Trophy?
While the Delhi fans would be hoping to see the return of their favourite superstar, chances of him featuring in India’s top domestic campaign are highly unlikely. With the Test series against the Kiwis on the horizon, Kohli will possibly link up with Team India in the pre-series preparation camp.
The 12-year-long wait, thus, is likely to stretch another year. Kohli last featured in the Ranji Trophy way back in 2012, scoring 14 and 42 against Uttar Pradesh before getting out to Bhuvneshwar Kumar in both essays.
This is yet another step taken by the state association which aligns with BCCI’s strict policy of pushing the established players to play domestic cricket. Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan lost their central contracts for not following the norms earlier this year. Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya reportedly promised the Indian Cricket Board to play domestic cricket (Ranji or Vijay Hazare) whenever the packed calendar allows a window.
Kohli is currently playing for Team India in the ongoing 2-Test series against Bangladesh scoring 6 and 17 in two innings in Chennai.
Virat Kohli in Ranji Trophy squad: For the first since 2019, Kohli has been named in Delhi’s probable’s squad in India’s premier domestic campaign. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
