Virat Kohli Returns with Ayush Badoni to Ranji Trophy

After a 12-year hiatus, Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli made a highly anticipated return to the Ranji Trophy, playing for Delhi against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, with thousands of fans in attendance to witness the event, including young talented player Ayush Badoni.

Thereturn of Virat Kohli to domestic cricket was met with immense enthusiasm from the crowd, with over 15,000 people attending the match, and former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali praising Kohli's fan following, stating he's blessed with immense respect. Despite the excitement, Kohli's return was marked by an anti-climax as he was dismissed for just 6 runs on the second day, extending his poor form in recent times.

Kohli's decision to play in the Ranji Trophy comes after the national cricket board directed contracted players to participate in domestic cricket following India's 3-1 Border-Gavaskar Trophy loss to Australia. This move is seen as an attempt to revitalize his form, which has been struggling for consistency in Test cricket, with an average of 30.72 since 2020 and 23.2 since 2024.

The appearance of Kohli in the Ranji Trophy has sparked debate among fans and experts, with some seeing it as a non-essential situation, given his upcoming commitments in ODI and Champions Trophy matches. However, others believe that this move could be the catalyst for Kohli to regain his form and passion for the game, which has been lacking in recent times.

As Kohli navigates this new chapter in his cricketing career, all eyes will be on him to see if he can rediscover his magic and lead his team to victory, with the support of talented players like Ayush Badoni, and make a strong impact in the world of cricket once again.