After India’s disappointing performance on the Australia tour, there were hopes that star players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli would play in the second round of the Ranji Trophy. However, neither player has provided any confirmation to their respective boards about playing. The second round of the Ranji Trophy is set to begin on January 23. However, doubts about Virat Kohli’s participation in the domestic match have increased. According to a report from Times of India, Kohli has suffered a neck strain and has even taken an injection for it.
Delhi is scheduled to play Saurashtra in their next match on January 23, but the uncertainty surrounding Kohli’s availability has grown. The Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) has stated that they have not received any updates so far.
A source told TOI, “It is possible that he may skip the first of the remaining two Ranji Trophy matches, and if DDCA selectors are provided with an update, the situation could become clearer.”
At the moment, it cannot be ruled out that Kohli may be included in Delhi’s squad at some level, and if he trains with the team in Rajkot before the match against Saurashtra starts, it wouldn’t be surprising. The Delhi team will depart on January 20 and will have two training sessions before the match begins.
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Kohli had started the Australia tour with a century in the Perth Test, but after that, he couldn’t play any big innings and kept getting out at the slips. In the 9 innings of this 5-match series, he scored 190 runs at an average of 23.75, including 1 century.
A senior DDCA official mentioned that Kohli’s name might be included in the team, with the note “subject to availability.” However, if a clear update comes before the meeting at Arun Jaitley Stadium on the afternoon of January 17, the situation could change.
Before selecting the team, the Men’s Senior Selection Committee and coach Sandeep Singh will have potential players do a net session. Rishabh Pant has confirmed his availability for the match against Saurashtra, and DDCA officials are confident about his participation in the last home match against Railways.