Ranji Trophy: For Virat Kohli, BCCI to broadcast Delhi vs Railways match live
Initially, the BCCI had no plans to stream the fixture. However, given the excitement surrounding Virat Kohli's return and the buzz among fans, the board altered its decision on Tuesday, January 28¡ªjust two days before the match.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which has made it mandatory for all national players to participate in domestic cricket, saw fans eagerly anticipating Virat Kohli's return to action. After a disappointing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25, the star batter is set to make his Ranji Trophy comeback in Delhi's final-round match against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Initially, the BCCI had no plans to stream this fixture, however, given the excitement surrounding Kohli's return and the buzz among fans, the board altered its decision on Tuesday, January 28¡ªjust two days before the match.
BCCI's last minute change
Initially, the BCCI had no plans to broadcast the Delhi vs Railways match, prioritizing fixtures like Karnataka vs Haryana and Bengal vs Punjab. Even the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) was unsure whether the game would be covered.
"We don't know if the BCCI will make any last-minute arrangements since Kohli is playing, but we haven't received any communication regarding the broadcast. Normally, major venues get one live game allotted for TV or streaming. Our match against Tamil Nadu was aired live, and the broadcast schedule is usually set months in advance," a DDCA official said according to PTI.
The Conversation between Virat Kohli and his friends' son Kabir: (PTI).
¡ª Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) January 28, 2025
Kabir - "How can I play for India?".
Virat Kohli to Kabir - "You have to practice hard. And it shouldn't be your papa telling you to go to practice. You should tell papa, I have to go to practice". ?? pic.twitter.com/BgfnMoOpRr
A BCCI official confirmed that the primary televised and streamed matches in this round were Karnataka vs Haryana at Chinnaswamy and Bengal vs Punjab at Eden Gardens. However, with Kohli's return generating significant interest, the board has now decided to livestream the Delhi vs Railways match as well.
Virat Kohli returns to domestic cricket
The 'King' will be playing his first domestic match in 12 years as he last played against Uttar Pradesh in 2012. While he missed Delhi's previous match against Saurashtra due to a neck sprain, he has prepared himself for this crucial league fixture.
VIRAT KOHLI AFTER 12 LONG YEARS IN DELHI RANJI JERSEY. ? pic.twitter.com/heH0ukhrTQ
¡ª Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 28, 2025
Ahead of this match, Kohli was seen training in Mumbai under the guidance of former India coach Sanjay Bangar, focusing on improving his backfoot play and expanding his scoring options square of the wicket. During the BGT, he struggled, edging the ball in eight of his nine innings. Now, he as well as fans will be eager to see the cricketer overcome those issues.
Delhi struggles in Ranji Trophy
Fans are excited to Kohli in action, hoping for a strong performance, especially as his team, Delhi, has been struggling. In a group featuring eight teams¡ªincluding Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, and Assam¡ªDelhi is currently in sixth place, while Railways is seventh. Delhi sits third from the bottom in the Elite Group D standings, with 14 points from six matches. Meanwhile, Railways, ranked two spots higher, presents a significant challenge as Delhi aims to end the season on a high note.
Delhi vs Railways Ranji Trophy match: Key details
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
Date: January 30, 2025
Time: Match starts at 9:30 AM IST; toss at 9:00 AM IST
Where to Watch: Livestream available on JioCinema
Ranji Trophy: Delhi squad
Ayush Badoni (captain), Virat Kohli, Sanat Sangwan, Arpit Rana, Yash Dhull, Jonty Sidhu, Himmat Singh, Navdeep Saini, Money Grewal, Harsh Tyagi, Siddhant Sharma, Shivam Sharma, Pranav Rajvanshi, Vaibhav Kandpal, Mayank Gusain, Gagan Vats, Sumit Mathur, Rahul Gahlot, Jitesh Singh, Vansh Bedi
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Karen Noronha is a versatile journalist with a passion for sports and K-pop. With over 7 years of experience at publications like IBTimes UK, DNA, and OTTPlay/DesiMartini, she seamlessly transitions between covering global athletic events and the dynamic world of K-pop.
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