Virat Kohli made his highly anticipated return to domestic red-ball cricket on Thursday, representing Delhi against Railways in the Ranji Trophy. This marked his first appearance for the team in over 12 years. While the spotlight was on Kohli’s comeback, an old on-field altercation from the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL) resurfaced during the match broadcast.
Kohli and Gambhir’s Heated IPL Exchange
During the 2013 IPL season, Kohli—playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru—was involved in a heated confrontation with Gautam Gambhir, the then-captain of Kolkata Knight Riders. The altercation, which required intervention, raised concerns over their relationship as they were also teammates in the Indian national team at the time.
The man who stepped in to defuse the situation was former Delhi cricketer Rajat Bhatia. Speaking on air during Kohli’s Ranji Trophy match, Bhatia humorously acknowledged that many people remember him more for breaking up that fight than for his own cricketing career.
“People know me mostly because I stopped a fight between two people. That’s what they remember more than my performances. Now, one has a stand named after him, and the other has a pavilion (laughs),” Bhatia joked.
He also emphasized that minor confrontations are common within teams but should not be prolonged. “Even in Delhi’s Ranji team, there used to be small confrontations. But you don’t have to carry them forward. Today, one is a head coach, and the other is still a key player,” he added, referring to Gambhir’s coaching role and Kohli’s continued presence in Indian cricket.
Kohli’s Underwhelming First Innings
Kohli’s return to the Ranji Trophy didn’t go as planned, as he was dismissed for just 6 runs off 15 balls in the first innings. Railways pacer Himanshu Sangwan bowled him early, sending his off-stump flying and dampening the excitement of fans who had gathered in large numbers to watch him play.
The star batter’s struggles with form have been evident over the past few months. In his last 10 Test matches, Kohli managed only one century and failed to register a single half-century, highlighting his inconsistent run with the bat.
As the match progresses, all eyes will be on Kohli’s second innings, where fans and teammates alike will be hoping for a strong comeback from the modern-day great.
