Ranji Trophy: More than 12,000 fans turn up as Virat Kohli returns to domestic cricket amidst booming chants in Delhi

Ranji Trophy: More than 12,000 fans turn up as Virat Kohli returns to domestic cricket amidst booming chants in Delhi

A chorus of ‘Kohli, Kohli’ and ‘RCB, RCB’ began echoing around the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday morning, long before the first ball was bowled at 9.30 a.m.

These chants have been heard many times before at international and Indian Premier League (IPL) matches. But for a Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Railways, this was uncharted territory.

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Considering the heightened interest around the match due to Virat Kohli’s appearance in the First-Class competition after more than 12 years, the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) had said that the public would have free entry into the North End stand through gate numbers 15 and 16.

By 9 a.m., the stand, with a capacity of approximately 6,000, was nearly full. A few minutes later, the lower tier of the Bishan Singh Bedi stand, which can hold around 12,000, filled up as well with the DDCA deciding to open the No. 17 and 18 gates owing to the feverish demand.

“Since PM Modi and other VIPs are paying floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat nearby, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) asked us to allow the fans waiting outside to quickly get into the stadium. Otherwise, the police would have had to disperse the crowd outside the stadium,” DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma told Sportstar. “In my three decades plus of watching cricket in Delhi, I have never seen so many people attend a Ranji match.”

The enthusiastic crowd, approximately 12,000-plus in number, would have to wait to watch Kohli wield the willow, for Delhi chose to bowl after winning the toss.

But it didn’t quell the enthusiasm of the fans, whose chants reached a crescendo as Kohli entered the field to join his teammates. The loud roar persisted as the first session progressed and wickets fell at frequent intervals.

At 10.34 a.m., into the 12th over of the Railways innings, a fan from the North End stand even managed to evade the security and enter the outfield. He dashed straight towards Kohli at second slip, and touched the India star’s feet before being whisked away by the security personnel.