Virat Kohli has been named in the Delhi and District Cricket Association’s (DDCA) list of 84 probable players for the upcoming Ranji Trophy season, alongside wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant. If Kohli plays, it would be his first appearance for Delhi since 2012.
Following the announcement, an old video of the 36-year-old resurfaced, in which Kohli opened up about a difficult moment early in his career. Recalling his debut for Delhi in the 2006-07 Ranji season, Kohli shared how he was unexpectedly dropped from the team with just a 1 AM notice.
“There was a time in my life where there was an opportunity. I was selected for the Under-14 Delhi team and then I was dropped at 1 AM because of some complications, and you know how things happen at state levels. Someone was preferred over me because of compensations,” Kohli told Dinesh Karthik.
Kohli revealed that his father was also approached with a similar offer to get him back in the team.
“The same was offered to my father, that maybe after two games I could get in if he paid. But my father straightaway said, ‘I’m not going to pay a single penny to make him play. If he can play on his talent, so be it. If not, it’s not meant to be.’ That stuck with me,” he added.
Despite this setback, the Ranji Trophy became a turning point in Kohli’s career. Following his father’s death in December 2006, Kohli scored a crucial 90 against Karnataka the next day. Although named in the probable squad, Kohli is unlikely to feature in this season’s Ranji Trophy due to the Test series against New Zealand.