NEW DELHI: The unmatched aura of Virat Kohli was on full display at the Arun Jaitley Stadium as thousands of fans turned up for Delhi’s Ranji Trophy clash against Railways on Thursday, creating a surreal atmosphere rarely seen in domestic cricket.
The excitement, however, reached a boiling point when an overzealous fan breached security, ran onto the field, and touched Kohli’s feet before being whisked away by officials.
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The incident occurred in the 12th over of Railways’ innings, when Kohli was stationed at second slip.
As the fan sprinted towards him, the crowd erupted in cheers. Security personnel rushed in to remove the intruder, but Kohli, ever composed, gestured for them to go easy on him. The dramatic moment summed up the fervor surrounding Kohli’s first domestic red-ball appearance in over 12 years.
The Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) had anticipated around 10,000 fans for Kohli’s return, an extraordinary number for a Ranji Trophy fixture. However, as the morning progressed, it became clear that the projections had fallen short.
The officials have later confirmed that more than 15,000 fans are watching the match in the stadium.
Despite the electrifying atmosphere, Delhi’s bowlers kept their focus, reducing Railways to 66/5. Siddhant Sharma and Money Grewal claimed two wickets each early in the morning session. Navdeep Saini also took a wicket for the hosts Delhi.
Earlier, Delhi skipper Ayush Badoni won the toss and decided to field first against the Railways side, led by Suraj Ahuja.
