New Delhi: Delhi secured a dominant victory over Railways by an innings and 19 runs during their final league stage Ranji Trophy clash held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday, February 1, 2025. Despite not advancing to the knockout stages due to earlier matches, this match showcased outstanding performances from the team, particularly from Sumit Mathur and captain Ayush Badoni.
Winning the toss, Delhi opted to bowl first, which proved to be a strategic choice as they bowled Railways out for just 241 runs. The Railways batting lineup struggled significantly, finding themselves at 66 for 5 before Upendra Yadav and Karn Sharma put together some resistance, scoring 95 and 50 runs respectively. Sumit Mathur was particularly impressive, claiming 3 wickets for just 20 runs. Navdeep Saini also contributed effectively, taking 3 for 62.
Delhi began their batting innings with some early trouble when Arpit Rana was dismissed. Sanat Sangwan (30 runs) and Yash Dhull (32 runs) provided some stabilization, but the crowd was eagerly anticipating the arrival of Virat Kohli. Unfortunately for fans, Kohli's return was brief as he managed to contribute only 6 runs before being dismissed. At one point, Delhi found themselves precariously placed at 97 for 4, but a resilient partnership between Mathur and Badoni, which yielded 133 runs, turned the match around. Mathur contributed 86, and Badoni was left just one run short of his century, reaching 99 before being dismissed. Eventually, Delhi posted 374 runs, achieving a 133-run lead over Railways.
Railways' second innings proved disastrous, and they were unable to match the performance needed to mount any significant challenge. Only Mohammad Saif (31 runs) and Ayan Chaudhari (30 not out) managed to score double figures as Delhi's bowler, Shivam Sharma, was on fire. Sharma delivered a brilliant performance, taking 5 wickets for just 33 runs. Railways collapsed for just 114 runs, handing Delhi the victory. Shivam Sharma's outstanding bowling was pivotal, and he ended the match with impressive figures, marking his return to first-class cricket after almost four years.
Shivam Sharma garnered significant attention not just for his bowling prowess but also for the brief security incident involving enthusiastic fans and Kohli. During the match, three fans invaded the pitch during play to meet Kohli, who was playing his first Ranji match after 13 years. Referring to the incident, Sharma noted, "It is just Virat bhaiya's craze. It shouldn't have happened. Someone could have come in carrying anything. Virat bhaiya said to security, 'kisi ko maarna mat' (Don't beat up anyone)." This moment underscored Kohli's immense popularity and the security challenges around high-profile players, even at domestic matches.
Despite Delhi's resounding win, their overall points total left them unable to progress to the knockout stages, ending their Ranji Trophy campaign positioned third in Group D. The match, which wrapped up within three days, emphasized Delhi's potential, showcasing skilled performances from both established players and those returning to the forefront of the team.
With the season concluded, Kohli is expected to join the Indian squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England starting February 6, 2025, marking his continued significance to the national team. Fans will be hoping to see more from both the young talents of Delhi and Kohli's leadership as they look to rebound from their Ranji Trophy finish next year.