Virat Kohli, the star Indian batter, made his return to the Ranji Trophy after a 12-year absence, aiming to regain his form for international cricket.
The former Indian captain confirmed his participation in the domestic first-class tournament after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) enforced stricter measures following India’s consecutive losses in the New Zealand Test series and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
Kohli, who represents Delhi in the Ranji Trophy, missed his team’s first match of the second round due to injury concerns but made his comeback in a match against Railways.
His return, however, led to a chaotic scene outside the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday as fans flooded the venue to watch the cricketing icon. According to reports, a stampede-like situation occurred when fans pushed and shoved to get in, causing injuries to three people. The crowd chaos also damaged a police bike, and many fans were left without their shoes.
One security official was reportedly injured while trying to control the situation. Footage from the scene showed fans lifting children onto their shoulders to avoid being crushed in the overcrowded conditions.
This game marked Kohli’s first appearance in the Ranji Trophy since the 2012-13 season, where he last played against Uttar Pradesh in Ghaziabad.
Alongside Kohli, several top players, including Indian captain Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, are also participating in this year’s Ranji Trophy.
