In an important update, top Indian batsman Virat Kohli might make a big comeback to local cricket. The ex-India captain has been listed as a possible player for Delhi in the upcoming Ranji Trophy 2024-25.
According to a DDCA announcement, another Indian team star, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, and the less-favored fast bowler Navdeep Saini are also on the list. Veteran fast bowler Ishant Sharma, who played for Delhi last season, is not among the 84 players chosen this time.
“A fitness test for the chosen players will happen on September 26, 2024. Players who are currently playing for their countries don’t need to take this test,” said a statement from DDCA when they announced the list of possible players.
This is the first time since 2018 that Kohli has been included in Delhi’s list of possible players for the Ranji Trophy. Back then, other important names in the DDCA statement were Ishant Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Gautam Gambhir, and Navdeep Saini.
It’s been over 11 years since Kohli last played in Indian domestic cricket. His last game in the Ranji Trophy was during the 2012-13 season when he played for Delhi against Uttar Pradesh. This was after a very successful series at home against New Zealand, where he scored a century and two fifties.
The wicketkeeper-batsman has played 17 Ranji Trophy games for Delhi since his debut in 2015. Pant made a big impact in the 2016-17 season by scoring the fastest century in the country’s top-level domestic red-ball tournament. He hit a 48-ball hundred against Jharkhand in Thiruvananthapuram, breaking Naman Ojha’s record of a 69-ball ton against Karnataka in 2014-15.
In the same year, Pant played his final Ranji Trophy match as the captain of Delhi in the final against Vidarbha. He scored 21 and 32 runs in his two innings. Vidarbha won the match by 9 wickets and took home the trophy. Notably, Gambhir, who is now the head coach of the Indian team, was part of Delhi’s team and played under Pant’s captaincy.
Ishant Sharma, who has played 100 Test matches, was not included in the list of 84 players. Last season, he was part of the main squad and played a few games, taking 3 wickets with an average of 33.66.
