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SPORTS FEBRUARY 07, 2025 | The Indian Eye 38

VIRAT KOHLI

With star batter back in Ranji Trophy game,

a look at his record in domestic cricket

The 36-year-old’s last appearance in Ranji was back in November 2012 against UP, in which

he was dismissed for 14 and 42 runs in both innings by pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar

OUR BUREAU

Kolkata
elhi’s Ranji Trophy captain
Ayush Badoni expressed ex-
Dcitement over Virat Kohli’s
inclusion in the team. Speaking about
the impact of Kohli’s presence, Ba-
doni highlighted how it has lifted the
morale of the team. “Everyone is very
excited and highly motivated with him
in the team. His presence brings a dif-
ferent energy and makes the team
feel livelier,” Badoni said.
It was a memorable homecom-
ing for star India batter Virat Kohli
as the veteran batter joined the Delhi
squad to prepare for his first Ranji
Trophy match in 12 years at the Arun
Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Tuesday.
The stadium is where the su-
perstar batter began his journey in
first-class cricket back in November
2006 with a brief outing of 10 runs.
Since then, he has become a “10 on
10” cricketer in the eyes of millions
of his fans. 9,000-plus Test runs, 30
centuries and multiple records later,
the 36-year-old returns to the place
where it all started in a bid to refine
his skillset for perhaps one last peak
before he hangs up his bat. In his Ranji career, Virat has scored 1,573 runs at an average of 50.77, with five centuries and six fifties in 23 matches (ANI)
Delhi is in the sixth spot in Group
D, with a win, two losses and three
draws. Their previous match saw The next season in 2007/08 was the Indian Test cap in 2011. other peak in Test cricket after years
them surrender to Saurashtra by 10 statistically a better outing for Virat, In the 2009/10 season, he scored of struggle and inconsistency.
wickets, with India’s star all-round- as he scored 373 runs in five match- 374 runs in three matches and six in- Virat has been facing a massive
er Ravindra Jadeja shining with a es and eight innings at an average of nings at an average of 93.50, with a decline in his Test performances that
12-wicket haul, including a seven-fer 53.28, with two centuries and a best century and two fifties. His best score dates back to the start of 2020. In 39
in the second innings. score of 169 but inconsistency was a was 145. He followed this with 339 Test matches since the start of 2020,
The 36-year-old’s last appear- big issue for the batter as he managed runs in four matches and six innings Virat has scored just 2,028 runs at
ance in Ranji was back in November 98 runs in six innings in which he did at an average of 56.50, with two cen- an average of 30.72, with just three
2012 against Uttar Pradesh, in which not cross the fifty-run mark. turies and a best score of 173. centuries and nine fifties to show. His
he was dismissed for 14 and 42 runs The 2008-09 was a solid season The 2012/13 season saw him play best score is 186.
in both innings by pacer Bhuvnesh- for Virat, as he scored 174 runs in five just one game against UP, in which he Virat ended the ICC World Test
war Kumar. innings and four games, an average scored a total of 56 runs. Championship 2023-25 cycle with 751
The 2006/07 Ranji season was of 34.80, with two fifties and a best Overall, in his Ranji career, Virat runs in 14 matches and 25 innings at
Virat’s first-ever appearance in the score of 83. has scored 1,573 runs at an average an average of 32.65, with two centuries
competition. The batter did rath- The next two seasons 2009/10 of 50.77, with five centuries and six and three fifties. His best score was 121.
er decently, scoring 257 runs in six and 2010/11 were breakthrough sea- fifties in 23 matches. In 10 Tests last year, he scored
matches and nine innings at an aver- sons for the batter, which combined Fans would no doubt, love to see just 417 runs at an average of 24.52
age of 36.71, with a best score of 90 with his brilliant international white- the superstar batter back in Delhi with just one century and fifty, to con-
and two half-centuries. ball performances, helped him earn clothing once again, as he seeks an- clude a disappointing year.

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