New Delhi: Team India star Virat Kohli was on Wednesday included in Delhi’s probables list for the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 along with wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant. Kohli was named in the 84-man list of probables released by the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA). The senior batter last played for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy in 2012 and is unlikely to feature this year due to international commitments.
Kohli, who is often regarded as one of the best batters of the current generation, is arguably one of the greatest players from Delhi to have represented India. However, Kohli was once unfairly dropped from the Delhi team during his junior cricket days despite being selected initially on merit. His father was asked to pay a bribe for his son’s selection in the Delhi U-14 team.
Kohli had himself revealed the story during his chat with his former India teammate Dinesh Karthik in an interview for Sky Sports. Kohli recalled how his spot in the team was given to another player overnight due to some ‘compensation’ and his father was asked to pay a bribe to get his son selected. Kohli’s father Prem Kohli, who was a lawyer by profession, denied paying any money and said he would want his son to play only on merit.
“I was selected for the U-14 Delhi team and then I was dropped at 1:00 AM because of some complications…, you know how and what happens at the state levels, someone was preferred over me because of some compensations that were done,” Kohli told Karthik during the interview.
“The same was offered to my father as well. That if you can (pay for selection), maybe he (Kohli) can get into the team after two games. My father straightaway said ‘I’m not gonna pay a single penny to make him play. If he can play on his talent, so be it. If not, it’s not meant for him’,” he added.
The clip of Kohli’s comments from the interview resurfaced on social media on Wednesday after DDCA named the star batter in their list of probable for the Ranji Trophy.
A wise man once spoke about Delhi cricket https://t.co/xfvile2Poq pic.twitter.com/pwT8irVrjp
— Prashanth S (@ps_it_is) September 25, 2024
Virat Kohli looks to bounce back in 2nd Test vs Bangladesh
Kohli is currently playing for India in the ongoing Test series against Bangladesh and will be looking to get back among the runs after a disappointing outing in the 1st Test in Chennai. The prolific right-hander was dismissed cheaply on scores of 6 and 17 in India’s two innings in Chennai on his return to Test cricket for the first time since January this year.
The former India skipper was seen sweating hard in the nets at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur on Wednesday and will be hoping to bounce back with a big knock in the second Test which gets underway on Friday, September 27 at the venue. India are currently leading the 2-match series 1-0 after their 280-run victory in the series opener.
Former India captain Virat Kohli was on Wednesday named in Delhi’s probables list for the Ranji Trophy 2024-25. Kohli last played for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy in 2012 and is unlikely to feature for his state team in the upcoming season. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
