After taking a break from cricket following the Border Gavaskar Series, Virat Kohli is gearing up for a return to domestic first-class cricket after more than a decade. The 36-year-old is set to feature in Delhi's upcoming Ranji Trophy match against Railways, starting on January 30. As part of his preparations, Kohli joined the Delhi squad for a training session on Tuesday.
During practice, a heartwarming moment unfolded when a young boy named Kabir son of one of Kohli's former age-group teammates interacted with the star cricketer. A video of their conversation has since gone viral on social media.
Kabir asked Kohli what it takes to become an international cricketer, to which the former Indian captain offered invaluable advice, highlighting the significance of self-discipline and relentless hard work.
“A lot of hard work,” Kohli responded. “Your father shouldn’t have to push you to train. You should wake up every morning wanting to practice on your own. If someone practices for an hour, you should practice for two. That’s the only way forward.”
He further added, “If someone scores a fifty, you aim for a hundred. If someone gets a hundred, you should go for a double hundred. Always push beyond the set benchmark.”
Virat Kohli looks to end struggle with form
Kohli’s return to the Ranji Trophy comes after a difficult phase with the bat in India's recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia. Despite scoring a century in the opening Test in Perth, he struggled in the following matches, failing to cross the 100-run mark across the remaining four Tests. India suffered a 3-1 series loss, leading the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to reportedly mandate international players' participation in domestic cricket.
Several Indian stars have since turned up for their respective state teams in the Ranji Trophy. Rohit Sharma represented Mumbai, alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer. Shubman Gill led Punjab, while Rishabh Pant made his return for Delhi. Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja starred for Saurashtra, delivering a brilliant performance by taking 12 wickets in a single match.
As Kohli prepares for his much-anticipated Ranji Trophy appearance, fans eagerly await to see if he can rediscover his best form ahead of future international assignments.
