Virat Kohli closes his eyes in anguish as Ayush Badoni of Delhi is dismissed for 99 against Railways
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Virat Kohli experienced a profound sense of disappointment on the second day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group D match between Delhi and Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, facing this setback on two occasions. The initial disappointment arose when he was dismissed for a modest score, followed by a second blow when Delhi captain Ayush Badoni fell just short of a century, being out for 99 runs. What was anticipated to be a momentous day for his numerous fans, who had gathered at the stadium for the second consecutive day in hopes of witnessing a Kohli masterclass, ultimately turned into a significant heartbreak, as Kohli's return to the Ranji Trophy after a 12-year hiatus lasted a mere 15 balls.
Railways bowler Himanshu Sangwan delivered a stunning blow to the legendary cricketer, uprooting his off stump after Kohli had previously struck a boundary off him. In the preceding delivery, Kohli had advanced towards Sangwan and elegantly flicked the ball straight down the ground, showcasing his powerful wrists to secure his first boundary, much to the excitement of the crowd.
However, this moment of joy was fleeting. Kohli attempted to replicate the shot, but Sangwan adjusted his length, causing the ball to swing in. Caught off guard, Kohli found himself in an awkward position, and the ball slipped through the considerable gap between his bat and pad, resulting in the off stump being dislodged.
As he walked back to the pavilion, Kohli appeared resigned, having scored just six runs off 15 balls in his first Ranji Trophy appearance since November 2012.
Ayush Badoni plays special knock but falls for 99
As Kohli made his way back to the stands, a majority of the spectators began to depart; however, those who remained were fortunate to witness an exceptional innings from Delhi's captain, Ayush Badoni.
Having relinquished his No. 4 position for Kohli, Badoni took to the crease at No. 5 amidst a subdued atmosphere, yet he remained unfazed by the circumstances. The elegant right-handed batsman, representing the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL, displayed remarkable form from the outset. He consistently found the boundary and maintained a brisk scoring rate.
It was largely due to his outstanding performance that Delhi surpassed Railways' first-innings total of 241, despite being in a precarious position at 97/4 at one point. Badoni aggressively targeted the Railways bowlers, particularly left-arm spinner Ayan Chaudhari, hitting him for three sixes.
He approached his century with consecutive sixes but ultimately misplayed a sweep shot off Karn Sharma, resulting in his dismissal at short fine-leg for 99. The sweep had been effective for him until his exit in the 56th over.
Upon Badoni's dismissal, the cameras shifted their focus to Kohli, who was situated in the dugout alongside Delhi coach Sarandeep Singh. Kohli appeared unable to witness Badoni's return to the dressing room, falling just short of a well-earned century. He closed his eyes in disbelief, displaying a sense of disappointment.
Badoni's performance included 12 boundaries and three sixes, highlighting his significant role in Delhi's campaign this season. He currently stands as both the top run-scorer and leading wicket-taker for his team in the Ranji Trophy.
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