Virat Kohli's return to the Ranji Trophy after an absence of over 12 years has transformed Delhi's upcoming match against Railways, scheduled for January 30, into a celebratory event. Just two days before this highly anticipated encounter, the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi embraced the star attraction—Kohli—with warmth and enthusiasm on a brisk winter morning. Among the attendees was a young boy named Kabir, who was part of this festive atmosphere.

Dressed in a red jacket and black trousers, Kabir, a fourth-grade student, gazed in awe as he observed Kohli's warm-up, harbouring a singular wish: to meet the cricketing icon. His aspiration materialized when Kohli donned his gear for his inaugural nets session at Kotla 1. Kabir owed a debt of gratitude to his father, Shavez, as it was his support that enabled Kabir to approach Kohli, engage in conversation, and obtain an autograph on a poster.

Chavez, who had played age-group cricket alongside Kohli, experienced a nostalgic reunion. During practice, Kohli paused to converse with Kabir for a while before signing the ‘Uncle Kohli’ poster that Kabir had brought. Additionally, Kabir captured a photograph of Kohli alongside his father.

The 36-year-old Kohli is set to compete against Railways on January 30, marking his return to the prestigious domestic tournament, where his last appearance was in 2012 during a match against Uttar Pradesh in Ghaziabad.

He arrived at the Arun Jaitley Stadium at 9 a.m. this morning. Following a team huddle and warm-up exercises, he engaged in a 15-minute football session with his teammates.

The renowned player, currently experiencing a dip in form, appeared at ease among his new teammates, most of whom are sharing the dressing room with him for the first time, and they were visibly thrilled to have him in their midst.

The practice session was overseen by Delhi's head coach, Sarandeep Singh.

All prominent players, including ODI and Test captain Rohit Sharma, have reported for their Ranji teams following a disappointing Test tour of Australia.

This attendance was prompted by a directive from the BCCI, emphasizing that players should prioritize domestic cricket whenever their international commitments permit.

While Rohit (Mumbai) and Rishabh Pant (Delhi) did not achieve significant success for their respective teams, veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja excelled with a remarkable 12-wicket haul for Saurashtra, and Shubman Gill scored a century for Punjab, despite the team's loss.

Pant, Rohit, and Yashasvi Jaiswal (Mumbai) will not participate in the upcoming Ranji matches as they prepare for the ODI series against England, commencing on February 6 in Nagpur.

However, KL Rahul will represent Karnataka.

Read Also: When Virat Kohli Last Played Ranji 12 Years Ago: Bhuvneshwar's Magic and Sehwag's Century

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