Ranji Trophy most searched word on Google India amid Virat Kohli's return

India's premier domestic cricket tournament, the Ranji Trophy has seen a surprising increase in interest, becoming the most-searched topic on Google in India. This spectacular spike was largely due to the return of star batter Virat Kohli, who made a return to the tournament after 12 years. His participation in Delhi's match against Railways in the 2024-25 edition has got a thunderous response, both physical and virtual.

Virat Kohli returns to domestic cricket after 12 years

Kohli, who last played a Ranji Trophy match in November 2012 against Uttar Pradesh, decided to return to domestic cricket amid growing concerns around his red-ball form. His decision created massive interest among fans, leading to an incredible turnout at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, also reflected in Google's trending searches.

Chaotic scenes outside Arun Jaitley Stadium

Meanwhile, his return led to chaotic scenes outside the stadium on Day 1 (January 30) of the game. Spectators reached the location as early as 5 AM and formed a queue of over 2 km to get an entry to the stadium.

The Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) had announced free entry for the fans, requiring only an Aadhaar card and its copy for verification. However, as the gates opened, thousands rushed in, resulting in a stampede-like situation. Several fans sustained minor injuries, and a police bike was damaged in the rush.

Electric atmosphere inside the stadium

Inside the stadium, the atmosphere was equally exciting. Chants of "RCB, RCB" were heard through the stands as fans associated Kohli with his Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise. Furthermore, on Day 1 a fan breached security to touch the veteran batter's feet before being quickly escorted away by guards. The cricketer was even seen gesturing to security personnel to be lenient with the intruder.

Also Read: Watch: Railways pacer Himashu Sangwan sends Virat Kohli's off stump for a walk in Ranji Trophy clash

BCCI & broadcasters make last-minute live-streaming decision

Looking at the growing interest, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and broadcasters made a last-minute decision to live-stream the Delhi vs Railways match on JioCinema, ensuring fans could watch the 36-year-old's return in real-time. However his innings was short-lived, batting on Day 2, he was dismissed after adding just six runs thanks to a peach of a delivery by Himanshu Sangwan, which saw Kohli's off-stump cartwheeling.