Virat Kohli marked his 24th birthday on the concluding day of his last Ranji Trophy match in November 2012, at a time when he had participated in only ten Test matches. Now at the age of 36, as he approaches his first first-class appearance for Delhi in over twelve years, Kohli has accumulated 123 Test caps, achieved 30 centuries, and maintains an average of 46.85, despite having scored only three hundreds in the past five years.

Under normal circumstances, Kohli would not be participating in the final round of league matches against Railways, which commences on Thursday. He is recovering from a demanding five-Test series in Australia (regardless of his performance following the century in Perth or the 1-3 series outcome), and is dealing with a neck strain. Additionally, he is set to play in a three-match One-Day International series against England starting February 6, leading into the Champions Trophy, where India will launch their campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20. However, these are not typical times for Indian cricket. The team has suffered defeats in six of their last eight Tests, coupled with repeated failures from the top order, prompting the Board of Control for Cricket in India to require its star players to represent their states whenever possible.

While this initiative is commendable, a more sensible approach would have been advisable. Instead, ahead of a series of white-ball internationals, key players such as Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma, his deputy Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja (all of whom participated in Australia and are part of the ODI squad) were essentially obligated to compete in the previous matches. This responsibility has now fallen on Kohli and KL Rahul in the current round, which may prove to be a futile endeavor, as even if their teams advance to the knockout stages, neither player will be available for selection.

Let us focus on Kohli, who has made 25 previous appearances in the Ranji Trophy. He will be playing under the captaincy of Ayush Badoni, similar to Rishabh Pant's role last week, in a match against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in the national capital, in a context where there is little at stake. Railways, former champions on two occasions, currently hold a higher position in the points table compared to Delhi, with 17 points to Delhi's 14 after six rounds of matches. However, it is important to note that their bowling attack is not particularly formidable. Should Kohli achieve a century, or even a double or triple century, it may not carry significant weight, considering the opponent is Railways. Conversely, if he registers another low score, akin to his performance in the last seven innings in Australia, his expanding group of critics will undoubtedly seize the opportunity to comment, remarking, "He can't even score against Railways."

There is no doubt regarding the substantial surge in interest and the enhanced profile of the Ranji Trophy when prominent players participate for their respective states. The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has recognized the necessity to open multiple stands in anticipation of the rare event of Kohli playing in a domestic match; however, mere token appearances do not fulfill any meaningful purpose. India's next red-ball match is scheduled for June 20, when they will face England in the first of five Tests at Leeds. By that time, the runs accumulated in the Ranji Trophy will hold little significance, especially with the Indian Premier League (IPL) serving as the final competitive engagement before the Test series. Given their recent defeats to New Zealand and Australia, the players find themselves without leverage and must adhere to the directives set forth by head coach Gautam Gambhir and selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar.

One may ponder the thoughts occupying Kohli's mind. Throughout his most challenging periods—of which there have been several, particularly in recent times—he has not lacked in intensity or dedication. It is important to clarify that Virat Kohli does not engage in cricket merely out of obligation or a sense of duty. When he steps onto the field, he invests himself fully, as he has done since he began his representative career two decades ago. However, nothing invigorates him more than the prospect of a serious contest—be it in international matches or franchise tournaments. There is a clear rationale behind Kohli's avoidance of inconsequential 'practice' matches during overseas tours; he struggles to motivate himself in the absence of significant stakes. He now finds himself in a position where he must endure and delve deep to rekindle the passion that has at times burned brightly but is now increasingly dimming, if not extinguishing.

Himanshu Sangwan, Kunal Yadav, Purnank Tyagi, and Karn Sharma (the leg spinner who made his sole Test appearance under Kohli in Adelaide in December 2014) are hardly comparable to Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Scott Boland, and Nathan Lyon. What can we expect from Kohli in the upcoming four days?

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