Virat Kohli is set to make his long-awaited return to the Ranji Trophy after 12 years, bringing renewed excitement to Delhi’s match against Railways, which begins on January 30 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The 36-year-old batter has been included in Delhi’s 20-member squad, following the BCCI’s mandate requiring centrally contracted players to participate in domestic cricket.

Kohli’s Last Ranji Trophy Match in 2012
Kohli last played in the Ranji Trophy in 2012 for Delhi in a match against Uttar Pradesh in Ghaziabad. In that game, he scored 14 runs off 19 balls in the first innings and followed it up with 43 runs off 65 balls in the second innings. On both occasions, Kohli was dismissed by pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
That match featured several big names from Indian cricket, including Gautam Gambhir (Delhi’s current head coach), former Delhi captain Virender Sehwag, Ashish Nehra, and Ishant Sharma. Despite Sehwag’s brilliant century in the second innings, Delhi struggled to secure a win.
Match Summary
Delhi managed 235 runs in their first innings but conceded a significant lead after Uttar Pradesh scored 403 runs. Sehwag’s century helped Delhi put up 322 runs in their second innings, setting Uttar Pradesh a target of 155 runs. The hosts comfortably chased the target, winning by six wickets inside 40 overs.
Kohli’s Ranji Trophy Career
Over his Ranji career, Kohli has played 41 matches for Delhi across red-ball competitions, amassing 2891 runs in 64 innings at an average of 51.62. His highest score in first-class cricket is 197. Kohli made his first-class debut in 2006 against Tamil Nadu at the Feroz Shah Kotla (now Arun Jaitley Stadium), where he scored just 10 runs. The match ended in a draw, with Shikhar Dhawan scoring a century while batting at No. 3.
One of the defining moments of Kohli’s early career came in a Ranji match against Karnataka. During the game, Kohli’s father, Prem Kohli, passed away. Despite the personal tragedy, Kohli returned to bat the next day, scoring a vital 90 runs for his team before attending his father’s funeral.
Kohli’s Recent Form and Hopes for a Turnaround
Kohli has been struggling with his form lately, managing just 190 runs in nine innings during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. He often fell to deliveries outside off stump, getting caught behind or in the slips. His return to domestic cricket is seen as an opportunity to regain confidence and fine-tune his technique, particularly his backfoot play.
The Road Ahead
As Kohli gears up for his Ranji Trophy comeback, fans and experts hope this stint in domestic cricket will help him rediscover his best form. With his dedication and preparation evident in the nets, all eyes will be on Kohli as he takes the field for Delhi in this crucial phase of his career.