India’s biggest star Virat Kohli is set to play his first Ranji Trophy match since 2012 after making himself available for Delhi’s encounter against Railways, scheduled to be held here starting from January 30. Kohli didn’t manage to make it to the Delhi side in their upcoming away match against Saurashtra beginning in Rajkot on January 23 due to a neck sprain, but has informed DDCA about his availability for the last league match of the Ranji Trophy.
“Virat has conveyed to DDCA President Rohan Jaitley and the team management that he is available for the game against Railways,” said Delhi head coach Sarandeep Singh to PTI.
Coming in the wake of a Test series loss in Australia earlier this month, BCCI has made playing domestic cricket a must for its contracted players unless there are fitness issues.
Kohli last played a Ranji trophy match in November 2012, when Delhi faced Uttar Pradesh in Ghaziabad.
Thanks to BCCI’s directive, the last two rounds of Ranji Trophy will be star-studded affairs.
Kohli’s India-Delhi teammate Rishabh Pant returns to Ranji after six years when he takes the field in Rajkot. He may well be with Kohli in the Railways match.
The Indian captain Rohit Sharma confirmed his availability for the game against Jammu and Kashmir at home after the announcement of the Champions Trophy squad on Saturday.
Other top India players will also be seen representing their respective states during the weekend’s third Round of Ranji Trophy, including Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Ravindra Jadeja.
The call for Rohit and Co to play some red-ball cricket has grown since India lost their second straight Test series. After tasting defeat at home, India was facing the music of a clean sweep against New Zealand, losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 1-3 in Australia.
Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were completely disastrous with the bat in Australia. Rohit Sharma took rest from the final match of the series while Virat Kohli struggled with the deliveries outside off stump.
Team India’s next assignment in red ball cricket is against England in june for now both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be seen in the upcoming ICC champions trophy which is set to start from February 19.
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