Kohli declines Delhi's captaincy; enjoys kadhi chawal after training ahead of Ranji return!
India's premier batter Virat Kohli had reportedly declined to lead the Delhi team in the Ranji Trophy match against Railways. According to reports, the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) had approached the India former capotain but he turned down the offer.
The game, which would mark Kohli's comeback to domestic arena after a 12-year hiatus, is scheduled to begin from January 30.
Meanwhile, the 36-year-old arrived at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday to join the team's practice session. After a team huddle and some warm-up exercises, he proceeded to play football for about 15 minutes with his teammates.
At exactly 9am when his jet black Porsche zoomed in through the ground's 'Virender Sehwag Gate', it was homecoming for Delhi's very own Virat Kohli, who checked in for a training stint with his first-class team after more than 12 years.
In the last 15 years, Delhi's 'Cheeku' became a hazy memory as he turned into the most commercially viable brand in global cricket, the face that ICC sold in its Olympic bid presentation.
On Monday, he was at his home ground for around three hours and had everyone in his vicinity hypnotised. Whether the young impressionable players, or seasoned head coach Sarandeep Singh or batting coach Bantu Singh -- all of them evidently wanted to be close to him.
Though courteous with all, the former India skipper seemed more comfortable with his former U-19 coach Mahesh Bhati, who is also the administrative manager of this team.
"Woh badlaa nahi hain. Usko chhole-poori pasand the aur humne mangaake rakhha thaa. Usne bola chole puri nahi khawoonga (He loves chhole poori, we made arrangements for him but he said he didn't want it)," a senior DDCA (Delhi and Districts Cricket Association) official told PTI.
What he did seek out after practice ahead of his first Ranji appearance in 12 years from January 30 was also an old favourite.
"Practice ke baad purane time ki tarah kadhi chawal khaya sabke saath (He had kadhi chawal with everyone)," revealed the official.
Everyone shadowed the icon like it was an event. Ranji Trophy matches are covered by a select bunch of domestic cricket faithfuls but on Monday, the numbers trebled.
Every move by the 'King' was followed. The two coaches -- Sarandeep and Bantu -- were by his side throughout and it would be difficult for photographers or videographers to edit them from the frame.
"I remember it was Ajit Chaudhary, the erstwhile manager of the Delhi Ranji team, who nicknamed him 'Cheeku' back in 2006-07," DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma, fondly called 'Mama', recollected as if it was yesterday.
He has seen Kohli since he first came here for U-15 trials.
Meanwhile, the much-hyped match would be telecasted on JioCinema.