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Delhi will face Saurashtra in the sixth Elite Group D match of the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season in Rajkot from January 23 to 26.
According to a report, Virat Kohli will join the Delhi team in Rajkot and train with the team even if he were not to play in the match. (Picture Credit: AFP)
Legendary Indian batter Virat Kohli, who last played a Ranji Trophy match for Delhi in 2012, could be seen in action in the premier domestic tournament next week. According to a report in Cricbuzz on Thursday, even though the 36-year-old right-handed batter is yet to officially confirm his availability for Delhi’s upcoming Ranji Trophy Elite Group D match against Saurashtra from January 23, it is likely that Virat “will join the Delhi team in Rajkot and train with the team even if he were not to play in the match.”
Star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has already confirmed his availability for the match to Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) officials, and there is a high possibility that he will lead the side as well.
“We will announce the squad tomorrow (Friday), and as of now we have not heard from Virat,” DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
In the match between Delhi and Saurashtra, star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja could also take the field for the home team. Jadeja, who failed to do much with the ball in the last three Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, has returned to India after delaying his departure from Australia to spend some time with family.
According to a Saurashtra Cricket Association official, there is a hope that the world No. 1 all-rounder will play in the match against Delhi.
“There are chances, but at this stage we have not heard from him yet,” said an SCA official.
Meanwhile, there is no clarity over KL Rahul’s participation in Karnataka’s Elite Group C match against Punjab at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
According to KSCA president Raghuram Bhat, the association has no knowledge of Rahul’s participation. India’s No. 3 batter, Shubman Gill, is all set to play for Punjab, and the likes of Prasidh Krishna and Devdutt Padikkal are almost certain to be part of Karnataka’s playing XI.
Rohit yet to confirm availability
India’s Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma trained with Mumbai’s Ranji team at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday, but the right-handed batter is yet to confirm his availability for the match. Mumbai is all set to face Jammu Kashmir in the Elite Group A match at Wankhede Stadium from January 23. Rohit hasn’t played a Ranji Trophy match for the 42-time champions since 2015.
The match against Jammu & Kashmir is a must-win for Mumbai to keep its chances of finishing in the top two alive and advance to the knockouts.
