Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Kohli slump continues but Delhi in command against Railways on Day 2
Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Kohli slump continues but Delhi in command against Railways on Day 2
Virat Kohli estimatedly spent 20 to 24 minutes at the batting crease on Friday. Whatever the exact duration was, it was nowhere near enough for Kohli to rediscover his form heading into the ICC Champions Trophy beginning on February 19.
Even in this short span, he could have been out twice. When he was eventually cleaned up after scoring six runs off 15 balls, the sizeable crowd at the Arun Jaitley Stadium was stunned into silence. A few metres away from Kohli was Railways medium-pacer Himanshu Sangwan, pumping his fists and screaming in joy at bagging the prized scalp as the star walked off with his head bowed down.
As soon as Kohli got into the dressing room, the fans that had gathered with fervour on Friday morning expectedly began to head for the exit gates. But Ayush Badoni entertained the few who stayed with a dazzling 99 off 78 balls to help Delhi end day two of a Group D Ranji Trophy duel against Railways with a 93-run first-innings lead. At stumps, the home team was 334 for seven, with Sumit Mathur unbeaten on 78.
The moment of despair for Kohli arrived at 10:54 a.m. Off the previous ball in the 28th over, the No. 4 took a couple of steps down the crease and used his strong bottom hand to clatter a full delivery down the ground for four, his right foot up in the air as he played the expansive shot. He followed it up by walking towards Sangwan again and playing an airy drive, but was done in by a ball that jagged back through the yawning gap between bat and pad and sent the off-pole for a stroll.
When the day’s play drew to a close, he was felicitated by the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA). But for Kohli to make this a truly happy homecoming to the Arun Jaitley Stadium in the Ranji Trophy, a much bigger score in the second innings is imperative.
