Virat Kohli’s return to the Ranji Trophy after more than a decade has ignited immense excitement among cricket fans, drawing fresh attention to India’s premier domestic tournament. The star batter, who last played in the competition in 2012, was named in Delhi’s starting XI for their clash against Railways.

Virat Kohli's return to domestic cricket drew over 15,000 fans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium for Delhi's Ranji Trophy match against Railways. An eager fan breached security to touch Kohli's feet, reflecting his immense popularity.

Virat Kohli took field for Delhi against Railways after BCCI mandated all players to compulsarily to represent their domestic teams whenever they are available to do so.

The star batter is all set to return to his Delhi team for the final round of the group stage of the domestic first-class tournament against Railways—and that too after 13 years! Well, we have all seen Virat Kohli making record after record at the international level, but we haven't seen him playing Ranji in a very long time.

Virat Kohli’s long-awaited return to the Ranji Trophy sparked massive excitement in Delhi, with thousands of fans queuing up outside the Arun Jaitley Stadium from as early as 5 AM. The chants of ‘RCB,

"I have been involved in Delhi cricket for more than 30 years but I have not witnessed such scenes for a Ranji Trophy game," said DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma, on Virat Kohli's comeback match.

The situation outside the Arun Jaitley Stadium turned chaotic before Virat Kohli’s return to the first-class tournament in the match against Railways.

Virat Kohli returned to domestic cricket, playing for Delhi against Railways in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Watch: Virat Kohli and Navdeep Saini channel their RCB bond; hug one another in Delhi vs Railways. Find out more, only on.

Preparations were being made to telecast the game, more stands than usual were being readied for fans, and players on both sides were excited to be part of his first Ranji Trophy game since 2012