Virat Kohli is making his long-awaited return to the Ranji Trophy after 12 years, playing for Delhi against Railways in their Elite Group D match on January 30, 2025. Kohli's last appearance in the tournament was in November 2012. The crowd at the Arun Jaitley Stadium has been electrified by his return, with fans lining up as early as 3 AM to catch a glimpse of the star. Delhi, with slim chances of advancing to the knockouts, needs an outright win over Railways to keep their hopes alive.

Former India captain Virat Kohli’s humility shone through when he declined an offer to have his kit bag carried during his first Ranji Trophy appearance since 2012. Delhi team manager Mahesh Bhati, who coached Kohli during his Under-19 days, revealed that Kohli, despite his superstar status, insisted on carrying his own gear. Kohli's down-to-earth nature extended to his interactions with teammates, reminiscing about playing on matting during training. "It’s my playing gear, I’ll carry it myself," Kohli said, demonstrating the same commitment to hard work that has defined his cricketing journey.

Virat Kohli, Making His First Ranji Trophy Appearance In Over 12 Years, Impressed During A Recent Training Session With Delhi's Squad. Despite The Session Being The Longest Before A Ranji Game, The 36-Year-Old Batter Showed Exceptional Fitness, Unlike His Fatigued Teammates. Kohli Spent Nearly An Hour At The Nets, Practicing Pull Shots And Facing Spinners And Pacers. Reportedly, He Wasn't Troubled By Any Deliveries, Focusing On Playing Beside The Line. Kohli, Gearing Up For His First Ranji Match Since November 2012, Even Capped Off The Intense Session With A Lap Around The Ground.

Virat Kohli's return to the Ranji Trophy, playing for Delhi against Railways, raises mixed expectations. After a tough Test series in Australia and ongoing recovery from a neck strain, Kohli's performance in the final round of the league will attract attention. While a century or more would be seen as routine against a relatively weak Railways side, another low score could fuel critics. Despite the stakes being low, this rare domestic appearance has generated interest, especially with the upcoming ODI series against England and the Champions Trophy. Kohli's commitment to the game remains unquestioned, even in this low-pressure scenario.

Virat Kohli’s return to the Ranji Trophy after 13 years has created a buzz rarely seen in domestic cricket. Ahead of Delhi’s match against Railways at Arun Jaitley Stadium, a Delhi police officer requested more security due to the unexpected crowd of journalists and fans. Kohli, choosing not to captain Delhi, supported Ayush Badoni’s leadership. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and JioCinema will live-stream the match to meet fan demand, deviating from their original broadcasting plans. This marks a significant moment for the tournament, showcasing Kohli’s dedication to promoting domestic cricket.

India’s chase of 172 in the third T20I against England faltered as Hardik Pandya struggled in the middle overs, scoring 40 off 35 balls. Parthiv Patel slammed Pandya for taking 20-25 balls to get set, criticizing his dot-ball approach. Kevin Pietersen also criticized India’s batting order, suggesting Dhruv Jurel should’ve batted higher. England's spinners, led by Adil Rashid and Jamie Overton, choked India’s innings, as India managed just 40 runs in seven middle overs. Varun Chakravarthy’s 5-wicket haul restricted England to 171/9, but India fell short by 26 runs in Rajkot.

Uzbek Grandmaster Nodirbek Yakubboev sparked controversy at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament after refusing to shake hands with India’s GM R Vaishali due to religious reasons. A viral video showed Vaishali extending her hand before their match, only for Yakubboev to sit silently, leaving her awkwardly. Yakubboev later apologized, explaining his decision was rooted in his Muslim faith, which prohibits touching women. He clarified he respects Vaishali and her brother, Indian GM Praggnanandhaa, and doesn’t impose his beliefs on others. The incident has drawn mixed reactions, with some labeling it discriminatory.

Jasprit Bumrah was awarded the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Award for ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year 2024. The Indian pacer surpassed Travis Head, Joe Root, and Harry Brook to win the honor, becoming the fifth Indian cricketer to do so. Bumrah's exceptional performance in 2024 saw him claim 71 wickets in just 13 Test matches, with an average of under 15. He also became the fastest Indian pacer to reach 200 Test wickets and ended the year with 907 points in the ICC Test Bowling Rankings, the highest for any Indian bowler.

India's batting collapse saw them lose to England by 26 runs in the third T20I in Rajkot, despite Varun Chakravarthy's brilliant 5-wicket haul. Chasing 172, India failed to build partnerships, with Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid wreaking havoc. Hardik Pandya's 40 off 35 balls was not enough as India ended with 145/9. England’s bowlers, led by Jamie Overton's 3 wickets, restricted India’s chase, while Chakravarthy's efforts were overshadowed. England’s win keeps the five-match series alive, with India leading 2-1.

India's captain, Rohit Sharma, has reportedly filed a formal complaint with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) against former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar. This follows Gavaskar's sharp criticism of Sharma's poor form during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where Sharma managed only 31 runs in three Tests. Gavaskar also questioned Sharma’s leadership abilities and hinted at a potential change in captaincy. Sharma, feeling the scrutiny was unfair, cited external factors for his performance and expressed his dissatisfaction with Gavaskar’s public comments, which added pressure during the challenging series.