0
0
Virat Kohli is all geared up for his much-anticipated return to the Ranji Trophy. It will be his first match since 2012.
On Tuesday, Kohli was spotted at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, wherein the larger-than-usual crowd gathered to witness the cricket icon prepare for the upcoming game against. The Railways on 30th January.
The excitement surrounding the return of Kohli to domestic cricket after more than a decade is palpable. It prompted even YouTube and TV journalists to cover this event.
Virat Kohli’s Warm Welcome & Training Sessions
When Kohli arrived around 9:30 at the stadium in the sleek black Porsche, he was greeted by the buzzing fan crowd and the media. Kohli was accompanied by his teammates and Sarandeep Singh, Delhi’s head coach.
Kohli on the stadium participated in varied warm-up activities, which included the 100-meter sprints and football drills. The atmosphere at the stadium was vivacious. It was filled with camaraderie and laughter as the team prepared for the upcoming match.
After the conclusion of the warm-up, Kohli donned the gear and headed to batting nets. It was notable that he, along with him, brought a thinner bat than usual. It was likely a change in strategy that was aimed at addressing the concerns he was facing in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, wherein he got dismissed 8 times because of the outside edges.
During a throwdown session of 15 minutes, Kohli focused on the front-foot strokes and the back-foot batting technique. Even after getting beaten a couple of times outside the off-stump, he did manage to execute particular effective pulls and jabs.
Virat Kohli Faced Spin & Pace
Kohli soon transitioned to face the spin bowlers, including Harsh Tyagi, Sumit Mathur and the off-spinner Sumit Sharma. Approximately 20 minutes he spent honing his skills against the spin, thereby showcasing his ability to cut the short balls in an effective manner. But Tyagi was able to manage and beat the edge of Kohli a few times with deliveries that bounced unexpectedly. After the attempt at the lofted shot, which resulted within the leading edge, Kohli was steady all throughout his session.
Next came the fast bowlers, including Siddhant Sharma and Navdeep Saini. Siddhant was able to beat his bat of Kohli twice with deliveries that were angled away from him. Sarandeep, on the other hand, stepped in with some advice he gave in Punjabi to Kohli for adjusting the guard. Following such suggested adjustment, Kohli was able to display quite impressive control over the ball, thereby earning applause from the coach, as he made many deliveries.
Virat Kohli & His Memorable Interaction with the Fans
Amidst the spectators, there was Kabir, Virat’s 8-year-old fan, who was closely observing Kohli’s techniques under his father’s guidance, Shawej Khan, the former Delhi player. After the session’s conclusion, Kohli then shared the heartfelt moment with him with a bear hug. He even signed Kabir’s bat while he offered him some valuable advice.
Kohli’s training day was wrapped up with slip fielding and outfield catching drills before taking the time to pose for pictures with the fans and the officials of Delhi & District Cricket Association in front of the pavilion that’s been named after him.
Virat Kohli Return to Domestic Cricket: A Hope
Kohli’s return to domestic cricket isn’t just significant for him but is also for the fans. Who are eager to witness him back in action. Not to mention, Kohli’s day at the nets shows not just his dedication but also his excitement. Which surrounds the comeback, while he prepares to lead Delhi in the Ranji Trophy match against the Railways. With proper security measures anticipated because of the larger-than-expected turnout expected for the game, it is moreover clear that the presence of Kohli is all set to redefine the domestic cricket atmosphere in India once again.
