"Mere khelne ka samaan hai, mai khud le jaunga.." Delhi team manager reveals Virat Kohli declined help at training session ahead of Ranji Trophy comeback

Virat Kohli last played in the Ranji Trophy in November 2012.

Virat Kohli is set to make his comeback to Ranji Trophy after more than a dozen years. The former Indian captain last featured in the premier red-ball domestic competition in November 2012, when he played under Virender Sehwag against UP.

Now, the 36-year-old will be playing under youngster Ayush Badoni, when Delhi host Railways for their last group match of the ongoing season at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, starting Thursday.

Earlier, the BCCI mandated the centrally contracted players to play in domestic cricket whenever they are available. While other India stars, including captain Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shubman Gill, played in the previous round of matches, Kohli missed it due to neck pain.

He went inside the dressing room and carried his own kit bag: Delhi’s team manager reveals Virat Kohli’s actions on his first day of training

Delhi’s team manager Mahesh Bhati, who had coached Kohli during his U-17 and U-19 days, revealed that Kohli had declined help from his teammates when Bhati asked them to carry his kitbag.

Speaking with Times Of India, Bhati said, “He is still the same. He is the same Virat for everyone. In fact, on the first day of the training session, he went inside the dressing room and carried his own kit bag. He practised the entire day and carried his kit bag back to the dressing room.”

“I said, ‘Virat, teri help kara dete hain (Virat, let us help you). He replied, ‘Bhaiya, kya baat kar rahe ho? Mere khelne ka samaan hai, main khud leke jaaunga (It’s my gear; I will carry it.) He carried the kit bag on his shoulders and went inside the dressing room,” Bhati added.

Kohli has been struggling in test cricket recently. Since last year, he’s averaged only 22 in test cricket and managed only two fifty-plus scores in 19 outings.

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