Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant named in Delhi’s probable squad

Star Indian cricketers Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant have been named in Delhi’s probable squad ahead of the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season.

This marks Kohli’s potential return to domestic cricket after several years of absence from the tournament. As per a release by the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), the list of 84 probables includes Kohli, Pant, and out-of-favor pacer Navdeep Saini. However, veteran pacer Ishant Sharma, who played for Delhi last season, was notably left out of the squad.

The Ranji Trophy is set to begin on October 11, with Delhi scheduled to play its first match against Chandigarh. However, the participation of Kohli and Pant remains uncertain as they will be preparing for India’s Test series against New Zealand, which begins on October 16 in Bengaluru. Their inclusion in the probable squad has nevertheless created excitement among Delhi’s cricket fans, sparking speculation about a possible appearance from the star players in the domestic arena. “A fitness test for the selected players will take place on September 26, 2024. Players currently on international duty are exempt from this fitness test,” read the DDCA’s statement.

This is the first time since 2018 that Kohli has been named in Delhi’s probable Ranji squad. Kohli’s last Ranji Trophy appearance was in the 2012-13 season, when he played against Uttar Pradesh after a successful international series against New Zealand. His return could bolster Delhi’s chances in the tournament, although his international commitments may prevent him from playing significant matches.

Rishabh Pant, known for his explosive batting, has been a key player for Delhi in the past. He has played 17 Ranji Trophy games since making his debut in 2015. Pant made headlines during the 2016-17 season, when he scored the fastest century in Ranji Trophy history, smashing a 48-ball hundred against Jharkhand.

The inclusion of Kohli and Pant, even if just in the probable squad, adds star power to Delhi’s roster as they look to make an impact in the upcoming Ranji Trophy season. With both players having strong ties to the team, their potential involvement, alongside emerging talents, could give Delhi a competitive edge. However, much will depend on their availability, given the overlap with international fixtures.

Delhi will open their Ranji Trophy campaign against Chandigarh on October 11, and fans will be keenly watching to see whether their cricketing icons take part in the season opener.

Delhi’s 84-member probables list for Ranji Trophy 2024-25:

Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Himmat Singh, Pranshu Vijayan, Anirudh Chowdhary, Kshitiz Sharma, Vaibhav Kandpal, Siddhant Bansal, Samarth Seth, Jonty Sidhu, Siddhant Sharma, Tishant Dabla, Navdeep Saini, Harsh Tyagi, Lakshay Thareja (wk), Sumit Mathur, Shivank Vashisth, Salil Malhotra, Ayush Badoni, Gagan Vats, Rahul S Dagar, Hrithik Shokeen, Mayank Rawat, Anuj Rawat (wk), Simarjeet Singh, Shivam Kumar Tripathi, Kuldip Yadav, Lalit Yadav, Prince Choudhary, Shivam Kishore Kumar, Shivam Gupta (wk), Vaibhav Sharma, Jitesh Singh, Rohit Yadav, Sumit Kumar, Anmol Sharma, Keshav Daba, Sanat Sangwan, Shubham Sharma (wk), Aryan Chaudhary, Aryan Rana, Bhagwan Singh, Pranav Rajvanshi (wk), Saurav Dagar, Money Grewal, Kunwar Bidhuri, Nikhil Sangwan, Puneet Chahal, Priyansh Arya, Yash Dhull, Prince Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav, Suyash Sharma, Arpit Rana, Divij Mehra, Sujal Singh, Hardik Sharma, Himanshu Chauhan, Ayush Doseja, Ankit Rajesh Kumar, Dhruv Kaushik, Ankur Kaushik, Krish Yadav, Vansh Bedi, Yash Sehrawat, Vikas Solanki, Rajesh Sharma, Tejasvi Dahiya (wk), Rounak waghela, Manpreet Singh, Rahul Gahlot, Aryan Sehrawat, Shivam Sharma, Siddharth Sharma, Parv Singla, Yogesh Singh, Deepesh Baliyan, Sagar Tanwar, Rishab Rana, Akhil Chaudhary, Digvesh Rathi, Sarthak Ranjan, Ajay Guliya