Last Updated:
Virat Kohli, who last played Ranji Trophy in 2012, has been officially named in Delhi’s Ranji Trophy 2025 Probables.
Virat Kohli. (PTI Photo)
Senior India batter Virat Kohli, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant and bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana have all been named in Delhi’s probable squad for the 2025 Ranji Trophy. All three players were part of India’s 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, which the visitors lost 3-1.
The Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) in its official list of probable mentioned their names after 38 state players, under the category of ‘International Players’. However, it added a big caveat right under it, saying their inclusion in the final team would be contingent on their ‘availability’.
“The inclusion of the above-mentioned international players in the final squad is subject to their availability,” the DDCA release said.
The release also asked the players to report for a fitness test on January 10. It’s unclear whether the three international players attended it.
Kohli last played Ranji Trophy in 2012 while Pant did so in the 2017-18 season. Their inclusion in the squad comes amid calls for international stars to play more and more domestic cricket after India lost six of their last 10 Tests.
Earlier in the day, skipper Rohit Sharma was seen practicing with the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team. However, whether or not he participates in the red-ball tournament, having not done so since 2015-16, is still unclear.
Following this, the DDCA had called for Kohli to take ‘inspiration’ from Mumbai cricketers to play for Delhi.
“Virat should take inspiration from the Mumbai cricketers and play for Delhi in domestic cricket whenever he is available,” DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma was quoted as saying by The Indian Express on Tuesday. “In Mumbai, there has always been a culture where their Indian players turn up for Ranji matches whenever available. It is missing in the North, especially in Delhi.”
“The BCCI has also mentioned players should participate in domestic cricket. I feel Virat and Rishabh should play at least one game, but I don’t think they will,” he added.
After the Test series loss in Australia, head coach Gautam Gambhir had also said that he prefers ‘everyone’ playing domestic cricket, for he believes if the players can’t give it adequate importance, they would never get the desired results.
