With his first Ranji Trophy innings in 13 years lasting all of 15 balls, Virat Kohli extending his lean run and stoked a heated discussion over his form.
While it lasted, it was enjoyable for the 5000-odd audience that gathered here to see Kohli; most of them did not take any time to leave the Arun Jaitley Stadium when his off-stump was rooted by Railways pacer Himanshu Sangwan in the 28th over of Delhi’s first innings.
The repeated chants of “RCB, RCB” and “Kohli, Kohli” dried up as the superstar walked the long way back to the dressing room, giving the railway employee Sangwan the most valuable scalp of his career.
Kohli had trained with former India coach Sanjay Bangar ahead of his first home red-ball appearance since November 2012 to fix batting errors that crept up on the Australia trip.
More precisely, it was the ball outside the off-stump haunting the former India captain on the two-month Down Under trip.
Following the leg before dismissal of Yash Dhull at roughly 10:30 a.m. local time, Kohli came out to bat to a raucous reception that marked one hour into the day’s events.
Rahul Sharma, left-arm bowler, first got to bowl at the cricketing icon with a spring in his stride. He threw a yorker down the leg-side only to find he overstepped.
Looking at the batter in front, Rahul tried for that little extra with his next ball and it turned out to be yet another no ball.
Kohli tried to establish himself in the next over bowled by medium pacer Kunal Yadav by playing and missing twice to a ball thrown on his susceptible zone—wide outside the off-stump.
After two singles, Kohli chose to rule the opposition—right-arm bowler Sangwan in particular.
Kohli contemptuously sent Sangwan toward the straight boundary, standing far outside the crease.
The ball was doing a little but in his attempt to dominate Sangwan, the very next ball, Kohli aimed for an expansive drive off a good length but missed totally to have his off-stump smashed. It was still the first session.
The ball seamed back to help Kohli fall.
He glanced at the surface quickly then hobbled back to the pavilion carrying his sea of supporters toward the exit door. For Kohli’s second essay—perhaps on day three—the supporters will be back.
Sangwan’s riotous celebration followed natural order. He had just removed the wicket of his life.
