Fri Jan 31 18:12:18 IST 2025: ## Kohli’s Ranji Return Draws Massive Crowd as Delhi Battles Railways
**New Delhi** – Virat Kohli’s return to Ranji Trophy cricket after a 12-year hiatus drew a record-breaking crowd to the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday, as Delhi took on Railways in a Ranji Trophy match. The match, live-streamed on JioCinema (free for Jio users), saw an unprecedented turnout, with fans lining up as early as 4 am to catch a glimpse of the star batsman.
Kohli’s brief innings ended quickly, dismissed for 6 by Himanshu Sangwan, silencing the enthusiastic crowd. Sangwan proved a thorn in Delhi’s side, also claiming the wicket of Sanat Sangwan (30). However, a strong partnership between Ayush Badoni (99) and Sumit Mathur (70*) steered Delhi to a commanding position, surpassing Railways’ first innings total of 240. Badoni narrowly missed a century, while Mathur’s unbeaten 70 anchored the innings. Delhi ended the day at 311/7.
Railways’ innings was highlighted by Upendra Yadav’s near-century (95), before Delhi fought back with impressive bowling performances to secure the win. The match showcased both the excitement generated by Kohli’s presence and the competitive spirit of the Ranji Trophy. The large attendance underscores Kohli’s enduring popularity and the significant impact star players have on domestic cricket.
First Piper 