Modern Indian cricket in popular culture has been defined by some of the biggest names to have graced the sport, with Virat Kohli leading the list. Despite being in a rut, the former Indian cricketer’s fanfare remains as gung-ho as ever, as was evident when he returned to Ranji cricket in Delhi.
Railway got off to a horrid start in their final Ranji Trophy 2024/25 group stage encounter against Delhi at the Arnu Jaitley Stadium as they whittled down to 21/3 against the new ball and could have been 33/4 were it not for a no-ball from Money Grewal. However, the exciting extravaganza had begun well before players took the field as one name dominated all converstaions surrounding the fixture — Virat Kohli. The Indian veteran had last played the Ranji Trophy in November 2012 while his most recent appearance against Delhi came in September 2013 when he led the side to the runners-up spot in the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy. Content to avoid domestic cricket since as an all-format international, a slew of recent policy changes from the BCCI meant a Delhi return was no longer abstainable and the fans let him know what it meant to them.
Before the game even begun, a queue measuring over two kilometres was assembled outside the ground with entry free of cost, much like any other Ranji fixture. However, unlike the preceding encounters, the buzz around the ground had begun as early as 5 AM courtesy of fans unwilling to miss out on the opportunity of watching the highest active run-getter in current international cricket walk out from a pavilion named after him. Broadcasters had also made last-minute arrangements to showcase the match to onlookers from home and were duly rewarded as over 20 lakh people tuned in within the first hour of play itself, even though it was Railway who were batting first.
Delhi are in a must-win situation as they reel in sixth, five points off the top two and three behind Railways in Elite Group D, but all that could not matter less to Twitterati.
That is huge!
No one
Since 3 am in the morning – I don’t think any other cricketer can do this
📷 @crickashish217 pic.twitter.com/R5BJCtJI8I— रोहित जुगलान Rohit Juglan (@rohitjuglan) January 30, 2025
I never saw this much crowd in any Ranji match of my life @BCCI @BCCIdomestic @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/1zCbBhgGbQ
— vipul kashyap (@kashyapvipul) January 30, 2025
Unreal
RCB is here to rule
RCB chants at Arun Jaitley Stadium 😍❤️🔥#ViratKohli | #RanjiTrophy pic.twitter.com/6KnmqmaDj8
— 𝙒𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙣🥂 (@wrognxvirat) January 30, 2025
This is a Ranji match. What have you done Kohli 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/EG1TJ2CAXm
— Yashvi (@BreatheKohli) January 30, 2025
Fanbase
Show them
If anyone asks what Virat Kohli has earned over the years? Show them this video. UNBELIEVABLE SCENES AT ARUN JAITLEY STADIUM! 😮 #ViratRanjiComeback pic.twitter.com/LIKRqakyOv
— Prathamesh Avachare (@onlyprathamesh) January 30, 2025
Scenes at 5 AM outside arun jaitley stadium 😭pic.twitter.com/a6zUhpS4x6
— Gaurav (@Melbourne__82) January 30, 2025
Believe it
Believe me this is not even 30% of the crowd, almost 70% of the crowd is still outside the stadium rushing in to get in the stadium anyhow.
Virat Kohli you are crazy man, Your stardom can never be compared with anyone in Asia. pic.twitter.com/1Ish9J2eW7— Utkarsh (@toxify_x18) January 30, 2025
