Dum laga ke khelna hai, let's win the match: Virat Kohli to Delhi team

After a fairly long time, there was buzz at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground of the Arun Jaitley Stadium ahead of a Ranji Trophy match. The Delhi cricket team looked like a disciplined unit, working in unison, with the aura around it belonging to an international side. There were media-persons around, clamouring for every bit of detail.

A little boy of eight who’d waited at the sidelines went up and unveiled a sketch for an autograph.

Virat Kohli, a modern-day cricket great, and who had his first practice session for a Ranji Trophy game after a gap of 12 years, obliged and chatted with him. Kohli had played age-group cricket with his father, Shawez, now a dealer in bats and cricket equipment. The boy returned beaming with pride and displaying the sketch to everyone around.

Virat Kohli stretches out to play a shot

Kohli’s return to domestic cricket has been subject of much speculation. He missed the previous round, against Saurashtra in Rajkot, when all other India stars played for their respective states. But he is here now, ready to play the first Ranji Trophy match in 12 years, against Railways.

The right-handed batsman warmed up with the team for around half an hour and then batted for half an hour at the nets, the ones behind the ground in an area which, in the days of yore, was known as Kotla 2. He looked in fine touch and even walked down the crease to play his shots. If this serves as any indication, Kohli is likely to bat freely in the match against Railways.

“Kohli talked to the team and the message he gave them was to play positively and with intent. He said ‘dam laga ke khelo’ (give your best). He also said that we need to win the match and not care about qualification chances. If luck is with us, other results will fall our way. But we need to give our best and win. This was the gist of what he said,” said a DDCA official. 

Kabir, an eight-year-old fan, gets his sketch signed by Kohli

Kohli's diet has generated a lot of interest due to his fitness regimen. He is known to be careful about the food he eats nowadays. So it came as no surprise that this time he skipped 'chhole kulche or poori' that he fondly had during the India-Australia Test here in 2023 and enjoyed during his childhood. Someone had specially arranged it for him, according to an official. Instead he had the meal everyone ate in the dressing room, which included kadi-chaawal, a staple in these parts and enjoyed widely on winter afternoons.  

There is a good grass cover on the pitch from what one could fathom. The Railways bowlers, with their strength being tight lines and lengths, may well find some help. But so would Delhi pacers. The battle will be a nice challenge. 

Virat Kohli (second from right) during slip catching practice

The 36-year-old will be fielding in the slip cordon as the later part of the practice session revealed. Kohli practiced catching with three others in the slip cordon.

Delhi are languishing in fifth place in the Elite Group D just behind Railways. To qualify for the knockout stage they need an outright win, especially with a bonus point and also hope that Chandigarh don’t take first innings lead and Saurashtra don’t win their final encounters.

Moments from Kohli's practice caught by www.thedelhijunction.com

Tags : Virat Kohli, Ranji Trophy, Delhi cricket team, Arun Jaitley Stadium, Railways, Fan Kabir, Virat fan