The Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi witnessed an electrifying atmosphere during the Ranji Trophy clash between Delhi and Railways, all thanks to Virat Kohli’s rare domestic appearance. Fans turned up in unprecedented numbers, forcing the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) to scramble for additional seating arrangements to accommodate the overwhelming crowd.
Unprecedented Fan Frenzy
The DDCA initially anticipated a crowd of around 10,000 for Kohli’s much-anticipated homecoming. However, as fans poured in beyond expectations, officials had to open the Bishan Singh Bedi Stand—which seats 11,000—after the Gautam Gambhir Stand, with a capacity of 6,000, quickly filled up.
Such was Kohli magnetic pull that even beyond India, his name trended in Pakistan. Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali marveled at Kohli’s massive fan following, questioning why he plays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) instead of his home team Delhi Capitals in the IPL.
Basit Ali on Kohli’s Influence
- “Why doesn’t this man play for Delhi in the IPL? Why does he play for RCB?” Basit wondered on his YouTube channel.
- “I have seen very few players in my life with such a following. Even in Pakistan, people were writing—‘This is what real respect looks like’.”
- “The fans chanted ‘Kohli, Kohli’ for seven hours straight, just waiting for him to acknowledge them.”
Kohli’s Brief Stay at the Crease
Despite the hype, Kohli’s return to first-class cricket was far from memorable. Facing just nine deliveries, he was dismissed for six runs by Himanshu Sangwan. Yet, his mere presence made the fixture one for the history books, proving that Kohli’s aura extends beyond performances Ranji Trophy—his very presence is enough to create magic.
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