Indian cricket team star batter Virat Kohli will be playing his first Ranji Trophy match since 2012 when Delhi take on Railways on Thursday. Kohli, who did not have a good outing for India during the Test series loss against Australia, joined the squad in Delhi on Tuesday and started practice. It was a huge occasion for the youngsters in the side to practice alongside the modern great and Virat had a clear advice for his teammates. “Delhiwaale ho, dum dikhao. Shuruat accha kiya phir thande pad gaye. Positive khelo jaise Delhiwaale khelte hain,” he said during the practice session according to a report by PTI.
It was in context of Delhi’s form in the Ranji Trophy as they have won just one out of their six matches while two ended in a draw. Despite starting the season well, Delhi went defeated on three occasions.
At exactly 9am when his jet black Porsche zoomed in through the Feroz Shah Kotla ground’s ‘Virender Sehwag Gate’, it was homecoming for Delhi’s very own Virat Kohli, who checked in for a training stint with his first-class team after more than 12 years.
Save for pacer Navdeep Saini, all other 18 members of Delhi’s squad had only seen him on TV and grown up listening to the tales of how ‘Cheeku’, the cherubic talent, became the ‘King’ of Indian cricket.
In the last 15 years, Delhi’s ‘Cheeku’ became a hazy memory as he turned into the most commercially viable brand in global cricket, the face that ICC sold in its Olympic bid presentation.
On Monday, he was at his home ground for around three hours and had everyone in his vicinity hypnotised. Whether the young impressionable players, or seasoned head coach Sarandeep Singh or batting coach Bantu Singh — all of them evidently wanted to be close to him.
Though courteous with all, the former India skipper seemed more comfortable with his former U-19 coach Mahesh Bhati, who is also the administrative manager of this team.
“Woh badlaa nahi hain. Usko chhole-poori pasand the aur humne mangaake rakhha thaa. Usne bola chole puri nahi khawoonga (He loves chhole poori, we made arrangements for him but he said he didn’t want it),” a senior DDCA (Delhi and Districts Cricket Association) official told PTI.
What he did seek out after practice ahead of his first Ranji appearance in 12 years from January 30 was also an old favourite.
“Practice ke baad purane time ki tarah kadhi chawal khaya sabke saath (He had kadhi chawal with everyone),” revealed the official.
Everyone shadowed the icon like it was an event. Ranji Trophy matches are covered by a select bunch of domestic cricket faithfuls but on Monday, the numbers trebled.
Every move by the ‘King’ was followed. The two coaches — Sarandeep and Bantu — were by his side throughout and it would be difficult for photographers or videographers to edit them from the frame.
(With PTI inputs)
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