Former India captain and batting stalwart Virat Kohli has been included in his domestic team Delhi’s Ranji Trophy probables for the 2024-25 season, marking his return to the squad for the first time since the 2019-20 season. Kohli’s inclusion came as a surprise to many, given the timing overlaps with India’s Test assignments against New Zealand at home and Australia away, raising questions about his actual participation.
Kohli, a cricketer who has rarely featured in domestic competitions in recent years, last played a Ranji Trophy match in the 2012-13 season. Since then, his scheduling commitments with the national team and other cricketing engagements have restricted his domestic appearances. He missed the Duleep Trophy fixture in the previous season alongside Indian skipper Rohit Sharma when several current Test players were preparing for a grueling international season.
Adding to the excitement of Kohli’s inclusion, Rishabh Pant also finds his name in the expansive list. Pant, who recently played in the inaugural match of the Delhi Premier League (DPL) for Purani Dilli-6, is expected to strengthen the squad with both his experience and exceptional wicket-keeping skills. The long list of 84 players showcases the depth and variety of talent in Delhi’s cricketing circuit, promising a competitive and dynamic Ranji Trophy season ahead.
“A fitness test for the selected players will take place on 26th September 2024. Players currently on international duty are exempt from this fitness test,” read a Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) release while announcing the probables list.
The 84-member probables list includes various players who have impressed on different stages, including participation in the first-ever DPL T20.
. This T20 league has offered a platform for numerous budding talents, allowing Delhi selectors to broaden their pool of potential candidates.
However, while the addition of Kohli and Pant may have attracted the headlines, the list also highlights other promising cricketers. Pacers such as Navdeep Saini, Mayank Yadav, Harshit Rana, Himanshu Chauhan, and Divij Mehra have all been included, reflecting a significant focus on fast bowling resources. Interestingly, Ishant Sharma, a seasoned campaigner with considerable experience, is a conspicuous absence from this expansive list.
Delhi’s 84-member probables list for the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 is as follows: Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Himmat Singh, Pranshu Vijayan, Anirudh Chowdhary, Kshitiz Sharma, Vaibhav Kandpal, Siddhant Bansal, Samarth Seth, Jonty Sidhu, Siddhant Sharma, Tishant Dabla, Navdeep Saini, Harsh Tyagi, Lakshay Thareja (wk), Sumit Mathur, Shivank Vashisth, Salil Malhotra, Ayush Badoni, Gagan Vats, Rahul S Dagar, Hrithik Shokeen, Mayank Rawat, Anuj Rawat (wk), Simarjeet Singh, Shivam Kumar Tripathi, Kuldip Yadav, Lalit Yadav, Prince Choudhary, Shivam Kishore Kumar, Shivam Gupta (wk), Vaibhav Sharma, Jitesh Singh, Rohit Yadav, Sumit Kumar, Anmol Sharma, Keshav Daba, Sanat Sangwan, Shubham Sharma (wk), Aryan Chaudhary, Aryan Rana, Bhagwan Singh, Pranav Rajvanshi (wk), Saurav Dagar, Money Grewal, Kunwar Bidhuri, Nikhil Sangwan, Puneet Chahal, Priyansh Arya, Yash Dhull, Prince Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav, Suyash Sharma, Arpit Rana, Divij Mehra, Sujal Singh, Hardik Sharma, Himanshu Chauhan, Ayush Doseja, Ankit Rajesh Kumar, Dhruv Kaushik, Ankur Kaushik, Krish Yadav, Vansh Bedi, Yash Sehrawat, Vikas Solanki, Rajesh Sharma, Tejasvi Dahiya (wk), Rounak Waghela, Manpreet Singh, Rahul Gahlot, Aryan Sehrawat, Shivam Sharma, Siddharth Sharma, Parv Singla, Yogesh Singh, Deepesh Baliyan, Sagar Tanwar, Rishab Rana, Akhil Chaudhary, Digvesh Rathi, Sarthak Ranjan, Ajay Guliya.
The DDCA’s ambitious list underscores the competitive nature of Delhi’s cricketing landscape, where seasoned professionals and emerging talents coexist and strive for excellence. With the Ranji Trophy scheduled to start on October 11, the coming weeks will be crucial for these players to showcase their fitness and form.
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