Virat Kohli’s Ranji Trophy records: How did former India captain fare year-by-year? All you need to know

Virat Kohli will return to the Ranji Trophy after 13 years when the former India captain represents Delhi against Railways in their final group fixture, starting on January 30. Kohli, who is currently, not playing any international cricket, had confirmed his availability to the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA).

The stylish India batter could have played Delhi’s penultimate group fixture against Saurashtra, which started on January 23, but a neck stiffness delayed his return to domestic cricket.

With a increasing amount of international cricket in the whole year, coupled with a two and half months-long Indian Premier League, playing domestic cricket had become a challenge for all top India cricketers, who represent the country in all three formats.

Same was the case with the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and others, who had to give up playing domestic cricket, which paved their way into the national team.

The 36-year-old Kohli, who is currently spending time with family in Mumbai, is expected to start training with his Delhi teammates soon in Rajkot ahead of clash. The last time Kohli played a Ranji Trophy game was back in 2012 against Uttar Pradesh in Ghaziabad.

Virat Kohli made his Ranji Trophy debut for Delhi against Tamil Nadu in 2006 at Feroz Shah Kotla. It was the same match, where Ishant Sharma and Murali Vijay also made their debuts, before making their way into the Indian national team. However, his debut didn’t well as Virat Kohli could score only 10 runs. For the unknown, Shikhar Dhawan, Rajat Bhatia and Vijay Dahiya, all scored hundreds in that game for Delhi.

Kohli’s best Ranji Trophy season came in 2009-10 when the India batter scored 374 runs in three matches, including a hundred at an astonishing average of 93.5. His second best season came in 2007-08 when he scored 373 runs in five matches including two hundreds.

In his last Ranji Trophy match for Delhi against Uttar Pradesh, Kohli 14 and 42 runs. He was dismissed both times by Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Kohli’s highest score in Ranji Trophy came in 2009-10 season when he scored 173 against Bengal at Feroz Shah Kotla. In fact, Kohli also took two wickets – one each in both innings – in that drawn game.

145 vs Uttar Pradesh – 2009