Image: Ayush Badoni will lead the Delhi Ranji team as Virat Kohli has relinquished the captaincy / © ProBatsman
The upcoming Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on January 30 marks Virat Kohli’s return to domestic cricket after 13 years. Despite the Delhi District Cricket Association offering him the captaincy, Kohli declined and will play under 25-year-old Ayush Badoni, who has been retained by the Lucknow Super Giants for ₹4 crore in IPL 2025. Badoni has yet to make his international debut but remains a consistent performer in the IPL.
Kohli’s last Ranji appearance was in November 2012, when he scored 1574 runs in 23 matches at an average of 50.77, including five centuries. His previous captaincy for Delhi was during the 2013 Challenger Trophy. Rishabh Pant, another prominent player, also opted out of captaincy earlier this season, and key players like Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer are unavailable due to commitments with the national team.
The tournament will also see the return of KL Rahul in the Ranji Trophy, who missed previous matches due to an injury. Kohli and Rahul’s comeback adds strength to Delhi’s and Karnataka’s lineup, as the focus shifts to preparations for the upcoming international series. This match serves as an important milestone for Delhi and an opportunity for Kohli to reconnect with domestic cricket.