When Virat Kohli returned to domestic cricket earlier this year, it brought a different kind of energy to the Delhi Ranji Trophy camp. After a modest run on the Australia tour, Kohli opted to play a Ranji Trophy match against Railways—his first appearance in the tournament after 12 years, following the BCCI’s directive.
Though he couldn’t score big in the game, his mere presence left a lasting impression on the young Delhi players.
The Football Training Incident
Delhi head coach and former BCCI selector Sarandeep Singh recalled a memorable moment from a training session before the Ranji clash. During a warm-up football drill, all the players were only passing the ball to Kohli, hesitant to go near him.
“They were playing football and everyone was passing the ball only to Virat. I stopped the game and told them, ‘Yash Dhull has been screaming for the ball for a long time, pass it to him too.’ But they said, ‘No, no, Virat is standing there.’ No one wanted to go near him, worried that they might stamp his foot by mistake or injure him,” Sarandeep said on Taruwar Kohli’s YouTube channel.
Kohli, noticing this, eventually broke the ice—chatting, laughing, and sitting with the younger players to make them feel at ease.
Sarandeep on Kohli’s Retirement from Red-Ball Cricket
Sarandeep also spoke about Kohli’s sudden call to retire from Test cricket ahead of the England tour. He believes Kohli had the ability to continue for at least three more years but understands the personal factors that may have influenced his decision.
“From the outside, I felt he could have played three more years. But it depends on what you think as an individual. He may feel that responsibilities as a husband and father weigh differently now. Your mindset changes—you’re not just a cricketer but also a family man. He has never played for records. If that was his goal, he wouldn’t have become the Virat Kohli we know,” Sarandeep explained.
Stay updated with the latest Cricket News, Match Predictions, Fantasy Tips, and Live Cricket Action—only on Today Cricket Matches!
