Virat Kohli has been named in Delhi’s probable squad for the second round of the Ranji Trophy, sparking excitement among fans who hope to see him play against Saurashtra. As per reports from PTI, the BCCI has instructed players to participate in domestic cricket whenever they are not on national duty. India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, has also shown interest in playing for Mumbai in their upcoming match against Jammu and Kashmir, having recently joined the team’s practice sessions. Additionally, young prodigy Yashasvi Jaiswal is likely to feature for Mumbai.
Kohli’s potential appearance in the Ranji Trophy would mark his first match in the competition in over a decade. His last appearance came in November 2012, when he represented Delhi against Uttar Pradesh. His most recent outing for Delhi was in the NKP Salve Trophy in 2013. At that time, Kohli captained a star-studded Delhi squad that included renowned players like Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, and Unmukt Chand. Fans eagerly await confirmation regarding Kohli’s participation, with speculation growing that he could lead the team if he plays against Saurashtra.
Aayush Badoni was Delhi’s captain in the first round, with the possibility of him assisting Kohli should the latter take charge. Other confirmed selections for Delhi’s playing XI include Himmat Singh, Yash Dhull, and Anuj Rawat. One of the significant boosts for Delhi is the return of Rishabh Pant, who has confirmed his availability for the match. Pant, who last played in 2017/18, had captained Delhi to the Ranji Trophy final, where they were defeated by Vidarbha.
However, Delhi will be without Ishant Sharma, who has confirmed that he will no longer participate in red-ball cricket. Simarjeet Singh is expected to spearhead the pace attack for Delhi in the second round.