Virat Kohli hasn't changed much at all. Well, maybe just a little. The star Indian cricketer is making his return to domestic cricket after over 12 years for Delhi's upcoming group-league match against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on January 30. He showed up for practice on Tuesday, and it was clear he left everyone, including the Delhi players and coaches, in awe.

Known affectionately as 'cheeku' in Delhi, Kohli last played for the team in a first-class match back in December 2012 against Uttar Pradesh. Now, he’s back as the 'king' of Indian cricket. But surprisingly, there wasn’t much of a royal vibe from him during or after practice.

His passion and commitment to the game remain unchanged, no matter the level he’s playing at. However, his eating habits have shifted a bit. A big fan of chhole bhature whenever he’s in Delhi, Kohli turned down the tempting dish for breakfast on Tuesday.

“He hasn’t changed. He loves chhole puri, and we had it ready for him, but he said he didn’t want it,” a senior official from the DDCA (Delhi and Districts Cricket Association) shared with PTI. What he did ask for after practice, as he gears up for his first Ranji match in 12 years on January 30, was something from his old favorites.

After practice, he enjoyed kadhi chawal with everyone, just like the old days, the official shared.

Fans flocked around the legend as if it were a special occasion. While only a handful of domestic cricket enthusiasts usually cover Ranji Trophy games, the crowd on Tuesday was significantly larger.

Every action of the 'King' was closely observed. His two coaches, Sarandeep and Bantu, stayed right by his side, making it tough for photographers and videographers to capture him without them in the shot.

"I remember it was Ajit Chaudhary, the former manager of the Delhi Ranji team, who gave him the nickname 'Cheeku' back in 2006-07," reminisced DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma, affectionately known as 'Mama', as if it happened just yesterday.

Kohli spent about three hours at his home ground, captivating everyone around him. Whether it was the eager young players, the experienced head coach Sarandeep Singh, or batting coach Bantu Singh, they all clearly wanted to be near him.

While he was polite to everyone, the former India captain appeared most at ease with his old U-19 coach Mahesh Bhati, who also serves as the team's administrative manager.

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