Before the commencement of the Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, the spotlight was predominantly on Virat Kohli, marking his return to domestic cricket after a 12-year hiatus. Despite Delhi achieving a remarkable victory, attention has now turned to Railways fast bowler Himanshu Sangwan, who ensured that Kohli's homecoming was far from pleasant.

Sangwan, 29, who made his first-class debut for Railways in 2019 against Uttar Pradesh, is currently experiencing a remarkable phase in his career. He bowled Kohli out, sending the off-stump flying and plunging the crowd into stunned silence. Kohli's innings lasted a mere 15 balls and 23 minutes, concluding with a score of 6 runs.

Given Kohli's known vulnerability, many anticipated that the Railways pacer would target the outside off-stump. However, Sangwan deviated from expectations, delivering a perfectly executed inswinger. The ball sharply angled back in, penetrating Kohli's defence and dislodging the off-stump.

Did Sangwan undertake any special preparations ahead of this high-profile encounter with Kohli? In an interview with Hindustan Times, he disclosed that his primary focus was on his strengths rather than succumbing to the external pressures surrounding Kohli's batting. Interestingly, Sangwan also mentioned that the bus driver, who was transporting the team, offered unsolicited advice, a gesture that took the bowler by surprise.

Prior to the match, discussions arose regarding the participation of Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant for the Delhi team. At that moment, it was unclear that the match would be broadcast live. Gradually, we discovered that Rishabh Pant would not be playing, while Virat Kohli would take the field, and the match would indeed be streamed live. I am spearheading the pace attack for the Railways. Each team member expressed their belief that I would be able to dismiss Virat Kohli, Sangwan remarked.

During our bus journey, even the driver advised me on the necessity of bowling at the fourth or fifth stump line to get Virat Kohli out. I had confidence in my abilities and aimed to concentrate on my strengths rather than exploit the weaknesses of others. By adhering to my strengths, I successfully claimed the wicket, he elaborated.

Sangwan, who has achieved 81 First-Class wickets, indicated that there were no particular strategies devised for Kohli. He also recounted his interaction with the cricketing icon, during which he requested Kohli to sign the match ball.

"There was no distinct strategy for Virat Kohli. The coaches informed us that players from Delhi tend to play aggressively and are all proficient stroke players. We were instructed to maintain a disciplined line," Sangwan explained.

As our innings concluded, I was heading to the dressing room while Virat Kohli was entering the field. Ayush Badoni and Virat were present. Virat Bhaiya extended his hand to me and complimented me, 'Very well bowled.' He acknowledged my performance, and I expressed my desire to take a photograph with him during the lunch break. I approached Delhi's dressing room with the very ball that had dismissed him. He inquired if it was indeed the same ball and then humorously remarked, 'Oh teri ki. Maza aa gaya tujhe toh,' he concluded.

Sangwan became a prominent figure in the cricketing community after he dismissed Virat Kohli on the second day of the Ranji Trophy match. Fans were initially taken aback to discover that the pacer's Instagram account was set to 'private.' However, he has since made his profile public, resulting in a remarkable increase in his follower count from 750 to over 18,000 within a few days. Kohli's immense popularity was evident as more than 10,000 fans attended the first two days of the Ranji Trophy match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, many of whom may have been eager to discover a new talent.

"After this match, my life has transformed. Upon returning home, I found 300 missed calls and around 200-230 messages. I had always kept my Instagram account private, but now I am receiving an overwhelming amount of support, and my follower count is rising. I have decided to make my Instagram profile public," Sangwan remarked.

"This is the largest crowd I have ever encountered. None of our coaches or players had witnessed such a turnout before. It felt akin to an international match. The atmosphere was even more exhilarating than that of an international game, as the cheers were solely for Virat. I thoroughly enjoyed playing in Delhi," he further expressed.

'Disappointed to not see Rishabh Pant play'

Sangwan and Pant's prior collaboration on the Delhi U-19 team is not widely recognized. Therefore, it is understandable that Sangwan felt a sense of disappointment regarding Pant's absence in the match against Railways, particularly given Pant's participation in the preceding Ranji match against Saurashtra in Rajkot.

"I felt a bit let down not to see Rishabh Pant on the field against us, as we have shared the experience of playing together in the U-19 team. Since that time, he has advanced to international cricket and the IPL. I have not had the opportunity to meet him since then. I was looking forward to reconnecting and conversing with him, as it has been several years since our last encounter," he expressed.

Sangwan's initial struggle

Sangwan may have gained sudden fame by dismissing Kohli, yet his journey has been marked by years of hard work. He left his home at the tender age of 13 or 14 and has been residing in rented accommodation for over 15 years.

"It was a challenging time. I moved to Delhi when I was around 13 or 14 years old. For more than 15 years, I have been living in a rented place. I have embraced my struggles. I always maintained self-belief and continued to play. The family I live with has been incredibly supportive, treating me as one of their own. They have always been there for me, providing a listening ear even during my poor performances," Sangwan remarked.

"When I began my journey in domestic cricket, I learned the significance of hard work and the importance of avoiding shortcuts. The IPL serves as an excellent platform, allowing players to transition to international cricket. However, I believe that participating in the IPL is not the sole pathway to international play; one can achieve that through perseverance in domestic cricket as well. Although it may be a longer route, diligence ultimately yields results. India possesses a robust structure for domestic cricket," he further stated.

Kohli is not the only cricketing icon who has taken notice of Sangwan's talent. Before his First-Class debut, he caught the eye of the legendary Glenn McGrath.

"In 2018, I attended the MRF Pace Academy, which had a cohort of 25 young bowlers. Video analysts assessed our bowling techniques, and Glenn McGrath provided insights on areas for improvement. I ranked last in the group. McGrath Sir praised my bowling action, run-up, physical strength, and wrist position. He encouraged me to keep progressing, affirming that I possess strong fundamentals," Sangwan shared.

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