In a surprising turn of events, former Indian cricket captain and batting maestro Virat Kohli has been named in Delhi’s Ranji Trophy probables for the 2024-25 season, marking his first inclusion in the list since the 2019-20 season. Kohli, known for his stellar performances on the international stage, last donned the Delhi jersey in the 2012-13 Ranji Trophy season. Despite the heavy overlap with India’s forthcoming Test series against New Zealand at home and Australia away, Kohli finds his name among the probables, raising eyebrows and sparking enthusiasm among cricket enthusiasts.
In another significant inclusion, explosive wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who recently dazzled in the inaugural match of the Delhi Premier League (DPL) for team Purani Dilli-6, has also been named in the extensive 84-member probables list. The premier domestic red-ball season kicks off on October 11, presenting a platform for several young and seasoned cricketers to showcase their mettle.
The announcement of Kohli’s name, despite his heavy international commitments, is seen more as a morale booster and a strategic move by the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) to inspire the younger talents within the team. Meanwhile, the inclusion of Rishabh Pant is less of a surprise, given his strong domestic and international performances in recent years.
A fitness test for the selected players has been scheduled for September 26, 2024. However, players currently on international duty, such as Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant, have been granted exemptions from this fitness test, according to a statement by the DDCA.
This significant move comes after Kohli and several other prominent Indian cricketers, including current Indian captain Rohit Sharma, opted out of the Duleep Trophy to focus on India’s grueling international calendar. The decision rattled many as these games often serve as a crucial preparatory ground for the long and demanding national season.
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The squad is a mix of experienced pros and young talents who participated in the first-ever Delhi Premier League T20. These players now have a golden opportunity to perform on a larger stage. Notable inclusions in the probables list feature pacers Navdeep Saini, Mayank Yadav, Harshit Rana, Himanshu Chauhan, and Divij Mehra. However, the absence of seasoned pacer Ishant Sharma from such a comprehensive list has not gone unnoticed and has triggered a swirl of speculations.
The detailed list of probables, brimming with emerging talents and robust performers, aims to forge a formidable unit for Delhi in the forthcoming season. Alongside Kohli and Pant, the other names that stand out in the 84-member squad are Himmat Singh, Pranshu Vijayan, Anirudh Chowdhary, Kshitiz Sharma, and Vaibhav Kandpal among others. The selection of such an extensive squad reflects Delhi’s rich talent pool and the association’s strategy to keep multiple options ready for the grueling Ranji season ahead.
Delhi’s 84-member probables list for the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 includes: 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, Digvijay Rathi, Sarthak Ranjan, and Ajay Guliya.
As Kohli gears up for an intensive international season, his symbolic inclusion in the Delhi squad serves as a testament to his enduring connection to his roots in domestic cricket. Fans and players alike will be watching keenly to see if the cricketing icon takes to the domestic field once again. Meanwhile, the young talents in the probables list will be eager to seize their opportunity and potentially share the stage with one of cricket’s modern greats.
