Tag: Virat Kohli

India star batter Virat Kohli has returned to the Ranji Trophy after a gap of 12 years, representing Delhi against Railways in the ongoing match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Kohli made himself available for his domestic team Delhi to participate in the Ranji Trophy earlier this month in a bid to regain form and abide by the new Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) rules, which made playing domestic cricket mandatory for all players.

He missed Delhi’s match against Saurashtra due to a neck sprain, however, he arrived in Delhi on Monday night ahead of the match against Railways.

His return to the tournament, however, resulted in a stampede-like situation as fans turned up in dozens to watch the star player play at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday.

According to Indian media outlets, chaos erupted at the gates of the stadium when eager fans began pushing each other.

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Some of the fans fell on the ground, resulting in the injuries to three fans. In the stampede-like situation, a police bike was damaged while dozens of fans left behind their shoes.

Reports said that a security official also sustained injuries as he was attempting to control the situation.

Video footage from outside the stadium showed fans with kids raising them on their shoulders to avoid suffocation in the crowded conditions.

For the unversed, Virat Kohli played his last game in the Ranji Trophy during the 2012-13 season against Uttar Pradesh in Ghaziabad.

Kohli joins other top players including Indian captain Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal to play in the ongoing edition of the Ranji Trophy.

READ: PCB finalizes schedule for Champions Trophy opening ceremony: sources

India star batter Virat Kohli has reportedly declined captaincy of the Delhi team ahead of his return to the Ranji Trophy.

Kohli made himself available for his domestic team Delhi to participate in the Ranji Trophy earlier this month in a bid to regain form and abide by the new BCCI rules, which made playing domestic cricket mandatory for all players.

He missed Delhi’s match against Saurashtra due to a neck sprain, however, he arrived in Delhi on Monday night ahead of the match against Railways and has been training with the team.

According to the reports, the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) had approached Virat Kohli to lead his home team upon his return, however, he declined the captaincy offer.

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The star batter emphasized that the team’s functioning should not be hindered and supported the young captain, Ayush Badoni, to continue leading the team.

It’s worth noting that previously, Indian wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant was also offered the captaincy but he also declined the offer owing to similar reasons.

For the unversed, Virat Kohli will be returning to domestic cricket after 13 long years during the Ranji Trophy match against Railways, which is scheduled to start on 30 January at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

Delhi Squad for the clash against Railways

Ayush Badoni (c), Virat Kohli, Pranav Rajvanshi (wk), Sanat Sangwan, Arpit Rana, Mayank Gusain, Shivam Sharma, Sumit Mathur, Vansh Bedi (wk), Money Grewal, Harsh Tyagi, Siddhant Sharma, Navdeep Saini, Yash Dhull, Gagan Vats, Jonty Sidhu, Himmat Singh, Vaibhav Kandpal, Rahul Gehlot, Jitesh Singh

READ: Sunil Gavaskar questions Rohit Sharma’s intent after Ranji Trophy loss

India batting maestro Virat Kohli is reportedly nursing a neck sprain, raising concerns over his participation in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The reports suggest that the former captain has been struggling with this issue since the fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia. According to sources, the 36-year-old required an injection to manage the discomfort.

While Kohli was gearing up for a possible return to first-class cricket in Delhi’s Ranji Trophy campaign, this setback has cast a shadow over his availability.

The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has yet to receive an official update regarding his fitness or participation in the match against Saurashtra, set to begin on January 23 in Rajkot.

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A DDCA source revealed, “Virat Kohli had a neck sprain and even took an injection for the same.” However, clarity on his fitness is still awaited, leaving fans and selectors in suspense.

The Ranji Trophy offers Kohli a platform to regain form after a tough Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, where he managed only 190 runs across five matches.

His domestic stint was also seen as vital preparation ahead of India’s ODI series against England, which kicks off on February 6, and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Delhi’s Ranji schedule features two crucial group-stage games, against Saurashtra and Railways, which could have been key for Kohli’s rhythm. However, reports suggest he might skip the first game and join the squad only for the second, depending on his recovery.

READ: Pakistan’s Asad Ali Memon summits Mount Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica

Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has criticised India’s star batter Virat Kohli for shoulder-bumping young Australian batter Sam Konstas and for his overall on-field behaviour during the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Kohli made headlines during the tour of Australia, not for his batting prowess, but for his behaviour on the field. He showed glimpses of his on-field aggression during the first three matches of the series, but he completely lost his cool in the fourth Test.

Sam Konstas took the world by storm on his debut as he attacked an in-form Jasprit Bumrah early in his innings on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne in front of a sold-out crowd.

Konstas’ charge against India’s best bowler frustrated the fielding team. However, Kohli failed to control his emotions and bumped the batter’s shoulder, leading to an exchange between them.

“What Kohli did with the shoulder bump is simply not cricket,” Sunil Gavaskar wrote in his column in The Sydney Morning Herald. “Indians are not shy to retaliate if provoked, but here the provocation was simply not there.”

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“The one thing that players learn with experience is that it’s futile to try and get back at the crowds, who have come to have a good time, so booing players is never personal but just a way to entertain themselves.”

Throughout the series, the vocal home crowd directed loud boos at Virat Kohli for his behaviour.

The star did not back down either as he provoked the Sydney crowd during the fifth Test by mimicking the infamous sandpaper scandal that had marred Australia’s tour of South Africa in 2018.

“To react to that doesn’t do the player any good, and in fact, does more harm. Kohli must understand that whatever he does to react to the crowd actually puts more pressure on his teammates, who also then become targets of the spectators,” Gavaskar added.

READ: Angelo Mathews raises concern over Sri Lanka’s Test schedule in 2025

Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has attributed the recent struggles of Indian star batter Virat Kohli to his ‘over-involvement’ in the on-field battles.

Kohli has faced significant challenges during the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, accumulating a disappointing total of just 190 runs over nine innings.

Despite a promising start to the series with a drought-ending century in the opening Test held in Perth, his performance has tapered off dramatically.

Notably, all eight times he has been dismissed in this series have come while he was attempting to play deliveries outside the off-stump.

Moreover, Virat Kohli found himself embroiled in a heated confrontation with Australian young opening batter Sam Konstas during the Melbourne Test.

In light of these struggles, AB de Villiers has stepped in with valuable advice for Kohli, acknowledging that the Indian star’s difficulties may stem from his heightened emotional involvement in the match.

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He further indicated that Kohli has allowed the crowd’s reactions to affect him. To counter this, the South African advised Kohli to take a step back and “refocus” after every ball he faces, emphasizing the importance of maintaining composure in high-pressure situations.

“It takes a lot of character, a lot of hunger, a lot of hours in the nets,” De Villiers said on his YouTube channel. “I think the thing is to reset your mind, every time.”

“I think with Virat, he gets involved with the battle on the field. That’s one of his biggest strengths and it can also be a weakness. During this series, we saw him have individual battles with some of the players, the crowd got under his skin.

“Virat loves the fight, but when you’re not in the form of your life, it’s best to get rid of those things. As a batter, it is to reset every single and realize every ball is an event and just forget about the bowler.

“I think sometimes Virat forgets about that because of his fighting spirit and the nature of the man wanting to be involved and show the whole of India he is there to fight for them.

“The skill, experience and greatness of the guy are not an issue. It’s about the refocus after every single ball. Maybe sometimes he gets too involved.”

READ: West Indies squad reaches Pakistan for Test series

Former Indian pacer Irfan Pathan has questioned the position of star batter Virat Kohli in the national cricket team due to his prolonged struggle in red-ball cricket.

Kohli has faced criticism recently due to his disappointing performances in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. While he did score a century in the first Test, which India won in Perth, he has since posted a series of low scores: 7, 11, 3, 36, and 5.

Irfan Pathan, during a discussion on Star Sports after India’s defeat in the fourth Test, criticised Kohli for his performances in red-ball cricket in the last five years.

“It’s been five years. You are such a big player, and your average in the last five years has been close to 28,” said Pathan. “Does Indian cricket deserve this? Absolutely not. They deserve better than this.”

“He has an average of 21 since October 2023. The Indian team doesn’t deserve that. Even a young player will give you an average of 21.

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“You expect more than this from Virat Kohli. If your career average is close to 50, these are numbers to be ashamed of.”

Pathan elaborated on the concerning trend of Kohli’s dismissals in the ongoing series, drawing attention to how often the batter has succumbed to balls pitched outside the off-stump.

“If you look at his dismissals, all the balls were outside the stumps. If you don’t touch them, the balls will go to the wicket-keeper, and the bowler will definitely try something else,” he stated.

“Good players increase the gap between two similar mistakes. Virat is making similar mistakes repeatedly. Australia are not even moving from Plan A to Plan B. He is getting out to Plan A itself.”

READ: 2024 — a rollercoaster year for Pakistan cricket

CENTURIAN: Pakistan batter Babar Azam has joined the Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli in an elusive list during the ongoing Boxing Day Test against South Africa here on Thursday.

Babar scored a meagre four runs, with a boundary, before he fell prey to Dane Paterson. However, during this brief knock, he achieved a historic milestone.

Prior to the match, Babar was just three runs away from the 4000-run milestone, which he successfully achieved with a boundary on the very first ball of his innings.

With this achievement, he became the 12th batter from Pakistan batter to score 4000 runs in Test cricket.

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He also became the third player in cricket history to score 4000 runs across all three formats of the game, joining Indian stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

It’s worth noting that Pakistan had a horrible start to their innings as they ended the first session with 88 runs on the board at the loss of four wickets.

Pakistan were asked to bat first and the opening pair stitched a 36-run partnership before South Africa pacers wreaked havoc.

Shan Masood (17) and Saim Ayub (14) fell in quick succession before Babar Azam came out to bat dismissed after adding a mere four runs to the total.

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Saud Shakeel struck three boundaries on his way to 14 off 6 before he was dismissed by debutant Corbin Bosch, leaving Pakistan reeling at 56-4.

Kamran Ghulam (23*) and Mohammad Rizwan (10*) then joined hands to help launch Pakistan’s recovery as he ensured no further damage until Lunch.

Pakistan Playing XI: Shan Masood (c), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Abbas.

South Africa Playing XI: Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson, Corbin Bosch.

READ: Virat Kohli penalised for on-field altercation with Sam Konstas

DUBAI: India batter Virat Kohli has been penalised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for his on-field altercation with young Australia batter Sam Konstas during the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

The Indian veteran made forceful contact with the 19-year-old debutant, who kicked off his international career in style, at the conclusion of the 10th over.

As the over came to a close, Kohli, clearly displaying his frustration, strode past Konstas and intentionally collided with him shoulder to shoulder, which was followed by a heated exchange of words between the two players.

Usman Khawaja, Konstas’ fellow opener, and umpire Michael Gough quickly stepped in to defuse the tension and restore order on the field.

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The incident was categorized as a violation of the ICC Code of Conduct, leading to Virat Kohli being fined 20% of his match fee and receiving a demerit point for his conduct during the match.

Sam Konstas, undeterred by the incident, belted Indian bowlers around the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on his way to a blistering 60 off 65 balls.

During the post-match news conference, Konstas played down the incident, calling it a part of the game.

“I was just doing my gloves and I think he accidentally bumped me. But that’s just cricket, the tension,” said the teenager, Australia’s youngest-ever opener.

READ: Australia’s top order fires to take charge of Boxing Day Test against India

Former Pakistan bowler Mohammad Amir has recently shared his opinion on the comparison between star batter Babar Azam and Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli.

Babar and Virat are frequently compared within the cricket community due to their similar batting techniques. However, Amir called these comparisons funny.

During a recent appearance on a sports talk show, Amir praised Kohli as the greatest batter of this generation and dismissed comparisons with any modern players, including Babar Azam, Steve Smith, and Joe Root.

“Virat Kohli is the greatest player of this generation, I laugh when comparisons are made between him and Babar Azam, Steve Smith, or Joe Root,” he stated.

“We cannot compare Virat Kohli to anyone because he has won so many matches for India, which seems impossible for any one player. Not just in one format, but in all three formats, Virat is the greatest batsman of this generation.”

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Mohammad Amir praised Virat’s commitment and resolve, highlighting how the Indian batter revitalized his career after a difficult series in England in 2014.

“Virat Kohli’s work ethic sets him apart from all players,” the left-hander said. “After his bad phase in England in 2014, the way he made a comeback and then consistently performed brilliantly for the next 10 years was no ordinary feat.”

He emphasized that Virat’s wicket was crucial for Pakistan’s victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final.

“His wicket in the 2017 Champions Trophy final was very important for us, which helped us win the final,” he added.

“If Virat had not been dismissed, we would have lost the final because we all know how exceptional Virat’s record is while chasing runs.”

READ: Babar Azam lauds Saim Ayub after series-winning performance against South Africa

Pakistan’s young opening batter Saim Ayub joined his compatriot Fakhar Zaman and Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli in an elusive list with his match-winning century in the third ODI against South Africa on Sunday.

Saim played a stellar quick 101-run knock from 94 balls, laced with 15 boundaries that included two sixes, in the third ODI and helped Pakistan white-wash South Africa in the three-match series.

Saim’s remarkable performance in the series culminated in his second century, a feat that not only highlighted his batting prowess but also earned him the coveted Player of the Series award.

Over the course of the series, he amassed an impressive total of 235 runs and contributed with the ball, claiming two wickets.

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His second century positioned him among an elite group of overseas batters who have scored multiple ODI centuries on South African soil.

This prestigious list features renowned cricketing legends such as Virat Kohli, David Warner, Joe Root, Fakhar Zaman, and Kevin Pietersen.

While batting first Saim Ayub lost his opening partner Abdullah Shafique in the first over. He then built a partnership of 114 runs from 133 balls for the second wicket with Babar Azam to set up Pakistan’s total of 308-9.

However, Kwena Maphaka broke the stand as he removed Babar, who scored 52 runs from 71 balls with the help of seven boundaries.

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Saim was joined by skipper Mohammad Rizwan (53) and they increased the scoring rate with their 93-run stand that conceded only 75 balls.

Rizwan and Saim fell in quick succession but Salman Ali Agha played a quick-fire knock of 48 runs from 33 balls and added a crucial partnership of 74 runs with Tayyab Tahir (28) to provide a finishing touch to Pakistan’s innings.

In response, South Africa, despite a spirited performance, were bundled for 271 runs in 42 overs.

It’s worth noting that Pakistan became the first-ever team to clean-sweep the Proteas in an ODI series in South Africa.

WATCH: Mohammad Rizwan takes stunning catch to dismiss David Miller