Virat Kohli, who is currently representing Delhi in the Ranji Trophy, had an audience with Indian Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday, January 30, alongside BCCI's Rajeev Shukla. This match marks Kohli's return to domestic red-ball cricket after a 12-year hiatus. On Day 1, he played a pivotal role in Delhi's efforts during their final group-stage match against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

The presence of one of India's all-time great batsmen drew an extraordinary crowd to the stadium, with thousands of fans eager to see Kohli in action. As Delhi opted to bowl first on a pitch conducive to pace bowling, Kohli took to the field with his teammates, led by captain Ayush Badoni. Railways were bowled out for 241 runs, with the fast bowlers benefiting from the conditions.

Shukla later shared a photograph capturing their meeting with the Indian Vice-President.

Kohli did not have the opportunity to bat on Day 1, as Delhi concluded the day with a score of 41/1 after 10 overs. Nevertheless, his presence alone was sufficient to captivate the audience. Supporters, many of whom arrived early in the morning, erupted in cheers whenever Kohli acknowledged them.

Craze for Kohli

The atmosphere reached an exhilarating peak when a fan managed to breach security and sprint onto the field, kneeling to touch Kohli’s feet before security personnel swiftly intervened to escort him away. This incident caused a brief interruption in play but contributed to the spectacle surrounding Kohli’s return to domestic cricket.

“I have never witnessed anything like this in the Ranji Trophy before. Even during my playing days, there were rarely any spectators who made the effort to attend domestic matches. It is solely due to one individual,” remarked a former Indian player present at the venue to PTI.

Kohli is anticipated to bat in his customary No. 4 position when Delhi resumes their innings. His last appearance in the Ranji Trophy was in 2012 against Uttar Pradesh, a match that featured notable players such as Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, and Ishant Sharma. Uttar Pradesh emerged victorious in that encounter by six wickets, but this time, all attention is focused on Kohli’s influence as he returns to his roots.

With the crowd's excitement showing no signs of waning, Kohli’s presence has elevated a standard Ranji Trophy match into one of the most eagerly awaited fixtures of the season.

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