Virat Kohli to finally play in Ranji Trophy after 13 years but there is a twist

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Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant have been named in Delhi’s Ranji Trophy 2025 squad to face Cheteshwar Pujara’s Saurashtra at Rajkot next week.

Former India captain Virat Kohli has been named in Delhi’s 22-member provisional squad for their upcoming Ranji Trophy 2025 match against Saurashtra in Rajkot. However, uncertainty looms over his participation as he is reportedly nursing a ‘neck niggle’.
Sources revealed to PTI news agency that Kohli informed the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) leadership about sustaining the injury during the final Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Test in Sydney. Although treated by the team physio, his availability for the Ranji match starting January 23 remains unclear. A decision on whether Kohli will play or join the team for a few training sessions in Rajkot will depend on further discussions with DDCA president Rohan Jaitley.
Kohli last played a red-ball match for Delhi in 2012 against Uttar Pradesh in Ghaziabad. The following year, Sachin Tendulkar played his final Ranji Trophy game against Haryana at Lahli.
Virat Kohli has been named in Delhi’s Ranji Squad! pic.twitter.com/plSTyF9PgZ
— Virat Kohli FC (@ViratFanTeam) January 15, 2025
Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is set to make his Ranji Trophy return after nearly seven years. However, he has declined the captaincy, allowing Ayush Badoni to continue in the role. According to a DDCA apex council member, Pant expressed his preference for Badoni to remain captain, citing his own inconsistent availability.
“When offered the captaincy, Rishabh said he was happy to play under Badoni. We have also included five U-23 players in the 22-member squad. These players will travel to Bhilai for their CK Nayudu U-23 match against Chhattisgarh starting January 25,” a DDCA official told PTI news agency.
The BCCI has mandated that centrally contracted players must participate in domestic cricket unless there is a valid reason to opt out. Non-compliance could result in sanctions, including deductions from central contract retainers and a ban on participating in the IPL.
Among other prominent players confirmed for the upcoming Ranji round are Yashasvi Jaiswal, who will represent Mumbai, and Shubman Gill, who will play for Punjab. Kohli has been travelling to Alibaug regularly from Mumbai over the last few days for the ‘griha-pravesh’ of his new holiday home with his Bollywood star wife Anushka Sharma.
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