The Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi witnessed an electrifying atmosphere as Virat Kohli returned to domestic cricket after 12 years to represent his home team in the Ranji Trophy match against Railways. Although he didn’t get a chance to bat on the opening day, Kohli kept the fans engaged with his lively gestures and interactions, turning the match into a spectacle.
Overwhelming Fan Turnout Forces DDCA to Open More Stands
The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) had initially planned to allow only 10,000 spectators for the game. They opened the 6,000-capacity ‘Gautam Gambhir Stand’ first, but the sheer volume of fans waiting since 5 AM to catch a glimpse of Kohli forced them to open the ‘Bishan Singh Bedi Stand,’ which accommodates 11,000 more people. This unprecedented turnout highlighted Kohli’s immense popularity, even at the domestic level.
Kohli’s Cheer Contest and ‘Have You Eaten’ Gesture Wins Hearts
While fielding in the slips, Kohli entertained the crowd by orchestrating a cheer contest between two sections of the stadium. He first signaled to one side, encouraging them to cheer, before doing the same for the other. His playful antics had the crowd roaring in excitement, and he burst into laughter after exchanging glances with a teammate.
In another moment that went viral on social media, Kohli made a ‘have you eaten?’ gesture toward a section of the audience, a gesture often used to check on someone’s well-being. His friendly interaction further endeared him to the spectators, making the day memorable for those present.
Railways Recover to Post 241 in First Innings
On the cricketing front, Railways managed to post a total of 241 in their first innings, thanks to a crucial knock of 95 runs from wicketkeeper-batter Upendra Yadav and a patient half-century from Karn Sharma at No. 7.
Delhi’s left-arm pacer Siddhant Sharma struck early, reducing Railways to 21 for two within six overs. Navdeep Saini then dismissed opener Vivek Singh for a duck, followed by a double strike from Money Grewal that left Railways reeling at 66 for five. However, a century partnership between Upendra and Karn helped the visitors stage a recovery.
For Delhi, Saini and Sumit Mathur were the standout bowlers, each claiming three wickets. Despite the excitement among fans, they had to wait longer to see Kohli bat as Railways’ lower order held firm.
With Delhi yet to bat, all eyes will be on Kohli when he finally takes the field with the willow in the coming innings.
