Twelve years after his last appearance in India’s premier domestic first-class tournament, Virat Kohli will return to the Ranji Trophy. Kohli confirmed his availability to play in Delhi’s final round of group stage matches against Railways from January 30 to February 2. The development was confirmed to ESPNcricinfo by Delhi head coach Sarandeep Singh.
Kohli was a notable absence from the squads for the penultimate round of group stage matches, starting January 23, when Delhi plays Saurashtra in Rajkot. Both Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja confirmed that they would play this match, but Kohli was ruled out after he informed the BCCI medical staff that he was still recovering from neck pain, for which he had received an injection on January 8, three days after the border. -The Gavaskar Trophy ended in Sydney. Several other Indian players will also feature in the January 23 round of games, including Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Reviewing India’s recent losing streak in Test cricket, against New Zealand followed by Australia, the BCCI, in coordination with the team’s leadership group comprising head coach Gautam Gambhir, Test and ODI captain , Rohit, and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar laid down several rules, including making it mandatory for centrally contracted players to participate in domestic cricket. If not on duty elsewhere, a player can opt out only with prior permission of the head of the selection panel, the BCCI said.
It could not be confirmed whether Kohli has told the Indian team management and Agarkar that he will play the January 30 round of Ranji games. If that match goes all the way and ends on February 2, it would be just three days between that and the start of the ODI series against England on February 6. Kohli is part of India’s squad for the England series followed by the Champions Trophy. , where India will play their first match on February 20.
