Indian batting superstar Virat Kohli is participating in the ongoing Ranji Trophy match between Railways and Delhi being played at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Playing for his home team Delhi, Kohli is making his return to domestic cricket for the first time in 12 years. Virat Kohli last played a Ranji Trophy match against Uttar Pradesh in 2012.
Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif, who played in Uttar Pradesh’s match against Delhi in 2012, recalled Virat Kohli’s weakness against off-stump deliveries, which still persists. Kaif recalled how Bhuvneshwar Kumar had taken the wicket of Virat Kohli in both innings, taking advantage of Kohli’s weakness against off-stump deliveries. Recently, Virat Kohli had a disappointing Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, scoring only 190 runs in nine innings. He faced the same issue against Australian bowlers as well, falling over and again to the off-stump deliveries.
“I could not believe that our match against Delhi in 2012 was Kohli's last Ranji Trophy match. The weakness he had earlier is still there. The way Bhuvneshwar Kumar got him out twice, I cannot believe that the same weakness is still there. The way he was getting out in Australia, he got out in the same way in that Ranji match," Kaif said in a video posted on X.
"Despite having weakness against outside-off-stump balls due to his tight bottom hand, the stature he has achieved is commendable. He has 50 centuries in ODI cricket. Playing a Ranji Trophy match is a win-win for everyone. Virat Kohli will get some practice. He will score runs get into form. it will benefit India a lot. So we pray that he does well and spend time at the crease,” he said.