Delhi saw legendary Indian batter Virat Kohli make his Ranji Trophy debut after more than 12 years. The batter, who turned 36, batted at No. 4 for the side led by Ayush Badoni on Day 2 of the Elite Group D match held at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, from January 30 to February 1, where he could manage only six runs off 15 deliveries before he was cleaned up by Himanshu Sangwan, hammering into Virat Kohli’s prepared defence sending his stumps flying in the morning session, which quieted the many fans who came to see him bat.
In an interaction with Hindustan Times, Sangwan, who represented Delhi at the U19 level, revealed a startling piece of advice given to him by a bus driver to take Kohli’s wicket in the match.
“There were talks about Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant returning to Delhi. At that time, we didn’t know the match would go live. We slowly heard that Rishabh Pant would not be playing, but Virat would. And it would be broadcast live. I am spearheading the pace attack for Railways. All members of the team were like they believed I could plan to dismiss Virat Kohli,” Sangwan added.
“The bus we were travelling in was even approached by the bus driver, who told me to bowl at Virat Kohli on the fourth or fifth stump line, and he would get out. I carried self-belief, and I focused on my strengths rather than the opposition’s weaknesses. I just went with my strengths, and I got the wicket,” he revealed.
Neither did they have any special plans for Virat Kohli. However, that’s what the coaches had told us: Delhi boys always favored an aggressive tempo in their games. They are all stroke players, so we were advised to maintain a disciplined line while bowling.”
He even shared what he told the former captain after the match when Railways lost inside three days by an inning and 19 runs.
“I was leaving for the dressing room when Virat Kohli was coming to the ground with Ayush Badoni. Virat Bhaiya shook my hand and said, ‘Very well bowled.’ He told me I was bowling well. I requested him for a photograph during lunch. So I went to the Delhi dressing room. I took the ball with which I got him out. He even asked me whether it was the same ball. Too good! In return, he jokingly said, ‘Oh teri ki. Maza aa gaya tujhe toh’,” he added.
