India cricket star Virat Kohli is set to make a highly anticipated return to domestic cricket, representing Delhi in the Ranji Trophy for the first time since 2012. Kohli has been included in the Delhi squad for their Elite Group D match against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on January 30.
However, fans eager to watch Kohli’s performance may be disappointed, as the match is expected to have no telecast or live-streaming coverage.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already allocated its three telecast slots for January 28 to other key fixtures: Karnataka vs. Haryana, Bengal vs. Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir vs. Baroda.
Although India captain Rohit Sharma’s recent return to Ranji cricket was televised, that decision was made ahead of time. For Kohli’s match to be covered live, the BCCI would need to make a last-minute change, which presents logistical challenges.
“We don’t know if BCCI will make any last minute arrangements since Kohli is playing but we haven’t been intimated anything about broadcast of this game. Normally all big centres get one live game allotted (TV or streaming). We had a game against Tamil Nadu which was aired live. The roster for broadcast is set months in advance,” a DDCA official told PTI.
“In the next round, the main match that will be televised as well as live-streamed is Karnataka versus Haryana at Chinnaswamy. Two more matches will be streamed. One of those is Bengal vs Punjab at Eden Gardens. There is a streaming of a third match but as of now it doesn’t involve Delhi,” a BCCI official told PTI.
Kohli Returns to Ranji Trophy, Boosts Delhi’s Chances
Kohli’s return to the Ranji Trophy marks his first appearance in the competition since 2012, when he played against Uttar Pradesh. After missing Delhi’s previous match against Saurashtra due to a neck injury, he is now ready to make his mark. His return boosts Delhi’s prospects, prompting the BCCI to enhance security at the venue.
This match is part of a wider trend of top Indian players rejoining domestic cricket, following the BCCI’s mandate that domestic performances are essential for international selection.
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant have all recently participated in the Ranji Trophy as the BCCI emphasizes the format’s significance. Kohli’s domestic comeback presents a rare opportunity for fans to see him play for his state team.
However, with no live telecast or streaming, supporters will have to rely on match updates and social media to follow his performance. Fans are now hoping for a last-minute decision from the BCCI to make this highly anticipated clash available for wider viewing.
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