Virat Kohli should take inspiration from Mumbai cricketers and play for Delhi in domestic cricket: DDCA secretary

Virat Kohli and other Indian batters had a disastrous outing in Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The batting let down was evident in the Test series against New Zealand as they struggled to tackle the spin. Subsequently, former India cricketers and several critics blamed the players for ignoring the domestic cricket and they credited their absence in Ranji Trophy to their Test slump. 

For the unversed, the second round Ranji Trophy 2024-25 is scheuled to commence in the last week of January. Kohli and Rishabh Pant, who hail from Delhi, are named in the probable list as confirmed by the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) secretary Ashok Sharma. It is worth noting that Kohli’s last appeared for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy in 2012.

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“Both Virat and Rishabh’s names are in the probable list. The Ranji Trophy camp is underway. Virat should take inspiration from the Mumbai cricketers and play for Delhi in domestic cricket, whenever he is available. See in Mumbai, there has always been a culture where their India players turn up for Ranji matches whenever available. It is missing in the North, especially in Delhi,” said Sharma. 

“The BCCI has also mentioned players should participate in domestic cricket. I feel Virat and Rishabh should play at least one game, but I don’t think they will,” he added.

Delhi await Kohli's confirmation 

Kohli is currently vacationaing with his family in Ali Baug and the batter has not confirmed his participation in Delhi’s upcoming games. The DDCA president Rohan Jaitely added that selctor and CAC might have reached out to the star batter over potential inclusion. 

“In regard to whether we have reached out or not, I am sure the selectors and the CAC are the ones who would be in touch and coordinating things, so it is something that they would be far better equipped to respond on,” said Jaitley.