The Delhi & District Cricket Association expects around 10,000 spectators at the Arun Jaitley Stadium for the upcoming Ranji Trophy match.
Usually, only one marquee match from each round of the Ranji Trophy is broadcast on TV, while two other big games are streamed online. Initially, Delhi’s match wasn’t on that list, as their fixture against Railways wasn’t considered a high-profile contest. However, the BCCI made a last-minute change—simply because Virat Kohli is playing!
After more than 12 years, Kohli is set to return to the Ranji Trophy, a development that has already created a huge buzz in Indian cricket. The BCCI’s sudden decision to include this game in its streaming lineup is just another reflection of that excitement.
The Karnataka vs Haryana game was pre-selected for TV broadcast and streaming, and that remains unchanged. Alongside, Punjab vs Bengal in Kolkata and Baroda vs Jammu & Kashmir in Baroda were scheduled for live streaming. The BCCI has now modified the lineup to include Delhi’s match as well.
A BCCI official confirmed the decision to PTI:
“The decision has been made, and JioCinema will stream Delhi’s match live. Fans outside Delhi who admire Virat Kohli don’t have to worry—they can watch their favorite star in action in the Ranji Trophy.”
Adding to the hype, the Delhi & District Cricket Association announced that spectators can attend the match for free. They expect at least 10,000 fans to show up.
Kohli’s return to the Ranji Trophy has been making headlines for days. Media personnel have crowded Delhi’s training sessions, covering every little detail—from how long he bats in the nets to his training routines. There’s even been a story about him refusing his favorite dish, chole bhature!
Reports from Delhi’s media suggest that Kohli was offered the captaincy for his comeback game but turned it down. Regular skipper Ayush Badoni will lead the side instead.
The last time Kohli played in the Ranji Trophy was in November 2012, when he represented Delhi against Uttar Pradesh at the same Arun Jaitley Stadium. His most recent first-class match outside Test cricket was in 2015, when he played for India A against Australia A.
Back in 2012, Kohli had played just 10 Tests, and while he was already making waves in ODIs, his red-ball career was still uncertain. Fast forward to today—he is a seasoned veteran with 123 Test matches under his belt.
But why is Kohli playing Ranji Trophy now? The answer lies in the BCCI’s latest directive. Following India’s underwhelming performances in recent Test series—against New Zealand at home and Australia away—the board has made it mandatory for senior players to participate in domestic cricket.
In the New Zealand series, Kohli managed just 93 runs across six innings at an average of 15.50. While he did score 70 in one knock, the rest of his innings combined for 23 runs. His form wasn’t great against Bangladesh either, failing to register a fifty in four innings. Even on the recent Australia tour, aside from a century in Perth, he scored just 90 runs in his other eight innings.
Following the BCCI’s orders, several top Indian players—Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Shubman Gill—have already played Ranji Trophy games in the previous round. Kohli and KL Rahul missed out due to injuries, but Rahul will feature for Karnataka in this round.
Now, all eyes are on Kohli as he returns to first-class cricket. Whether it’s the stadium crowd or fans watching online, the excitement is guaranteed.
