India National Cricket Team batter Virat Kohli is set to join the Delhi team for the final round of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25. According to reports from ESPNcricinfo, Kohli will train with the state team on Tuesday, January 28, ahead of their match against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium from January 30 to February 2. This will mark Kohli’s first appearance in the Ranji Trophy since 2012, a development confirmed recently by Delhi coach Sarandeep Singh.
Kohli had been expected to play the previous Ranji Trophy match starting January 23 but opted out due to neck issues. Reports suggest he received an injection for pain while in Australia and was deemed unfit to face Saurashtra.
Kohli’s return aligns with new BCCI guidelines requiring contracted players to participate in domestic cricket. This decision was prompted by India’s poor performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, where they lost the series 3-1.
In preparation for his return, Kohli has been working with former India and RCB coach Sanjay Bangar at a training facility in Mumbai. Reports indicate he is focusing on improving his backfoot game and expanding his range of shots ahead of the Test series against England in June.
Kohli’s participation in the Ranji Trophy could help rebuild his confidence after a string of underwhelming Test performances since 2020. His struggles were evident in home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, as well as in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, where he scored just 190 runs across five matches despite starting the series with a century in Perth.
Kohli has also been named in India’s squad for the ODI series against England, scheduled to begin four days after the Ranji Trophy’s final round. A strong performance for Delhi could provide much-needed momentum for Kohli and serve as a boost for Team India as they prepare for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
