India’s star cricketer Virat Kohli has decided to make himself available for Delhi’s final Ranji Trophy league match against Railways, scheduled to be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium from January 30. The announcement comes just days after the BCCI introduced new guidelines mandating contracted players to participate in domestic tournaments to remain eligible for national selection. Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) President Rohan Jaitley confirmed Kohli’s availability for the crucial game, marking what could be his first Ranji Trophy appearance since November 2012.
Questions have been raised recently about India’s top players skipping domestic first-class matches, especially after the team’s consecutive Test series defeats to New Zealand and Australia. Ahead of the ongoing Test season, notable players like Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja chose to opt out of the Duleep Trophy, sparking criticism. Following a review meeting last week, the BCCI made participation in domestic tournaments a top priority for national team players. In response, several players, including Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, and Jadeja, confirmed their availability for the sixth round of Ranji Trophy fixtures. While there was initial uncertainty regarding Kohli’s participation in Delhi’s match against Saurashtra this week, it is now clear he will feature in the following match against Railways.
Kohli has not played in the Ranji Trophy since the 2012/13 season when he featured against Uttar Pradesh in Ghaziabad, just before the Test series against England. That game, where he scored 14 and 43 in a losing effort, remains his only Ranji appearance since his Test debut in 2011. Kohli’s inclusion will be a significant boost for Delhi, as the team currently sits fourth in Group D. With Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, and Railways ahead of them, Delhi’s chances of making the quarterfinals hinge on strong performances in the remaining fixtures.
The BCCI has emphasized that participation in domestic matches is now a mandatory criterion for national selection and central contracts, with exceptions allowed only in extraordinary circumstances. For Delhi, the addition of Kohli and Pant at this critical juncture could prove decisive as the race for knockout spots intensifies.
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