Virat Kohli Disappoints Delhi Crowd, Fans Leave Stadium After Early Dismissal

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Virat Kohli’s much-anticipated return to the Ranji Trophy ended in disappointment as the star batter was dismissed for just 6 runs on Day 2 of Delhi’s clash against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The excitement of the home crowd quickly turned to dismay as Kohli’s struggles with the bat continued, leading to a mass exit from the stands.

Virat Kohli’s short-lived innings

Walking out to bat amid thunderous applause and chants of “Kohli, Kohli,” the 36-year-old was expected to anchor Delhi’s innings after the early dismissal of Yash Dhull. However, Kohli’s stay at the crease was brief, lasting only 15 deliveries. After striking a boundary off Railways pacer Himanshu Sangwan, Kohli was undone by an in-swinging delivery on the very next ball, which crashed into his stumps.

The packed stadium, which had been filled with fans eager to watch their hero in action, witnessed a mass exodus as soon as Kohli was dismissed. Delhi were left struggling at 86 for 3 and trailing Railways by 155 runs after Kohli’s dismissal. The star batter’s form has been a concern, with his recent Test performances against New Zealand and Australia raising questions about his consistency.

Kohli’s return to domestic cricket was seen as an opportunity to regain rhythm ahead of India’s crucial Test series against England, but his early exit only added to the concerns. The hype surrounding Kohli’s Ranji return had reached fever pitch in the days leading up to the match, with fans gathering outside the stadium for practice sessions and matchday seeing thousands fill the stands.

Despite the early setback, Kohli will have another chance to redeem himself in Delhi’s second innings. However, the pressure will be immense, with fans and selectors hoping for a much-improved performance from the Indian batting stalwart.

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