Virat Kohli, one of India's cricketing icons, is making his much-awaited return to domestic cricket by featuring in the upcoming Ranji Trophy match for Delhi against Railways. This will be his first appearance in the competition in over 12 years, with his last appearance in a domestic red-ball event dating back to 2012. Kohli was seen participating in a practice session at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, where he joined his Delhi teammates ahead of the match.

Kohli had previously informed the Delhi and District State Association (DDCA) about his intention to train with the team and was spotted working on his skills at the Kotla on Tuesday morning. DDCA officials expressed excitement over Kohli’s involvement, stating that it would be a valuable experience for the younger players in the team to train alongside the legendary batter.

While Kohli was offered the opportunity to lead the Delhi team in the match against Railways, he declined. Rishabh Pant, who has been playing continuous first-class cricket, has been advised to take some rest ahead of the Champions Trophy and is not part of the fixture. As a result, Ayush Badoni will continue as the team captain for the match.

Kohli’s return to domestic cricket is a significant moment for the team, as it will provide an opportunity for the junior players to learn from his experience. Only fast bowler Navdeep Saini has played alongside Kohli in the IPL and for India, and none of the current Delhi players have played with him in the Ranji Trophy before. DDCA Secretary Ashok Sharma highlighted that the younger players could gain valuable insights by sharing the dressing room with Kohli.

With Kohli’s presence expected to draw a large crowd, DDCA has taken extra security measures for the match to ensure Kohli can train and play without disruptions. Despite the heightened security, the match will remain free for spectators, and the DDCA has opened three additional stands at the Ambedkar Stadium End for the audience.

Kohli’s inclusion in the match comes after he missed Delhi's previous fixture due to a neck sprain, making his return to first-class cricket a highly anticipated event for fans and players alike.