All the noise around Virat Kohli‘s return should settle now. It is business time now for the ex-India skipper, who will be playing his first Ranji Trophy match in 12 years. Delhi and Railways go up against each other on Thursday, and there is a lot at stake for the batsman, who has been struggling for runs, big time. Except for a hundred vs AUS in Perth Test, he has been largely poor.
Virat Kohli in Ranji Trophy Again
Apart from averaging in mid 20s in the series, what was really frustrating was — the way he got out. Out of all his dismissals Down Under, he was out eight times behind the wicket, flirting with deliveries outside the off stump. That just goes on to say, he is struggling. Let’s just go purely by his numbers. In 10 matches last year, he scored 417 runs at an average of 24. And this year, in one Test, he scored only 23 runs.
If we look at his stats in the last five years, in 39 Tests he has only 2028 runs at an average of 30. So clearly, a lot is at stake for the 36-year-old. While one Ranji Trophy match won’t really make much of a difference on his Test career; but then if he can’t score against relatively easy opposition Railways — that would only signal, that Virat’s time is over.
Tough Ask vs Railways
In 23 Ranji matches, Virat has scored 1574 runs at an average of 50, and there are chances that his outside-off weakness could be exploited by a few. For starters, the main threat will be Himanshu Sangwan — who has picked 14 wickets in 6 matches for the team. Then there is a certain Kunal Yadav, who has picked two fifers in his last two outings vs Tamil Nadu and Assam. To cut the long story short, if Virat Kohli can’t score at least a ton, then it would be considered a failure for sure.
Meanwhile, as far as the rest of the team is considered, there isn’t much to talk about. Delhi have been poor throughout the season, where they have no chance of making it to the knockouts. IN 6 matches so far, they have only won 1, and lost two. Batting has been as bad as their bowling, Yash Dhull is their highest run-scorer, with 412 in 6 matches at an average of 51, while Ayush Badoni has been their best bowler, having picked 12 wickets in 4 matches.
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