“Legend himself signing the ball” - Virat Kohli’s special gesture after Delhi player bags fifer during 2024-25 Ranji Trophy game against Railways 

In a heartwarming gesture, veteran cricketer Virat Kohli signed a ball for Delhi teammate Shivam Sharma, who impressed with a five-wicket haul. It came in the second innings of their 2024-25 Ranji Trophy match against Railways, which concluded on Saturday, February 1.

Railways batted first and scored 241 runs in their first innings, with wicketkeeper-batter Upendra Yadav top-scoring with 95 runs. In reply, Delhi posted a formidable total of 374, led by captain Ayush Badoni (99) and Sumit Mathur (86). Virat Kohli, making his return to the prestigious tournament after a 12-year gap, was dismissed cheaply for just six runs off 15 balls.

Delhi’s bowlers were outstanding in the second innings, with Shivam Sharma leading the attack and claiming a five-wicket haul. Railways were bundled out for 114, handing Delhi a dominant victory by an innings and 19 runs.

After the match, Shivam shared a post on his Instagram account, featuring Kohli and the ball signed by the veteran cricketer. He captioned the post:

“This 5 wicket haul will always be close to my heart. Legend himself Virat Kohli bhaiya signing the ball for me made it more special. God is great and kind.”

Despite a dominant win in their final group-stage match, Delhi failed to qualify for the knockout stages of the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy. They finished third in the Group D points table with 21 points from seven matches (as of February 1).

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Virat Kohli to make international return in upcoming ODI series against England

Virat Kohli will be back in action soon as India host England for a three-match ODI series, starting February 6 in Nagpur. The following two games will be played in Cuttack and Ahmedabad on February 9 and 12, respectively.

After the ODI series, attention will shift to the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, set to begin on February 19. Both management and fans will be hoping for a stellar performance from Kohli, who boasts an outstanding record in 50-over cricket. He has accumulated 13,906 runs in 295 matches, averaging 58.18, with 72 fifties and 50 centuries to his name.