Tension mounts as Delhi fans compete for spots at Virat Kohli's first Ranji appearance in 13 years: WATCH

Thousands of fans queued up to watch Kohli, who is playing for Delhi against Railways, in his first domestic red-ball appearance in 13 years

There was a brief rush and jostling outside the Arun Jaitley Stadium here on Thursday morning as fans, who had gathered to see Indian superstar Virat Kohli play his first Ranji Trophy game since 2012, tried to make their way inside.

No one was injured in the incident, police said.

Initially, only one gate was open for entry and people started pushing each other to get inside the stadium, a Delhi Police statement said.

"Additional gates were soon opened, easing the situation. No injuries were reported, and the situation is now under control," it said.

BCCI wanted to end superstar culture by playing Kohli in Ranji Trophy only for Kohli to get a record media coverage, stadium full of fans and Jio Cinema live telecast.
They tried to control him but Kohli ended up showing how big of a superstar he is pic.twitter.com/r5oV5peO4b

— Gaurav (@Melbourne__82) January 30, 2025

The crowd for a Ranji Trophy game in Delhi, anticipating Virat Kohli’s return.

“Ranji ka matlab kya hai bhai?’ asks a young fan to his friend. #ranjitrophy pic.twitter.com/xsIkknmkls

— Akshay Ramesh (@iamnotakshayr) January 30, 2025

THIS IS KING KOHLI'S LEGACY..!!!! 🐐

Look at the fans at Arun Jaitley stadium just to see Virat Kohli in the Ranji match - The Box Office. 🙇🫡 pic.twitter.com/bJQy8NDsa4

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) January 30, 2025

#WATCH | #RanjiTrophy | Delhi cricket team to take on Railways cricket team at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi today.

A fan, Mohd Gul Nawaz says, "...I have come from UP, just to watch the match. I have come here for Virat Kohli...This crowd is here for Virat Kohli..." pic.twitter.com/DN8jU4IcVb

— ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2025

Thousands of fans queued up to watch Kohli, who is playing for Delhi against Railways, in his first domestic red-ball appearance in 13 years.

The 'Gautam Gambhir Stand' was already packed to the rafters and it hardly took time to fill the lower tier of the 'Bishan Bedi Stand', taking the crowd count well past 12,000 at toss.

The deafening roars of "Kohli, Kohli" could be heard from a distance as the former India captain took the field with the rest of the Delhi teammates.

Delhi won the toss and opted to bowl first, but the real spectacle was outside the stadium, where thousands of fans turned up early in the morning, eager to catch a glimpse of their cricketing idol.

A fan, Mohd Gul Nawaz says, "...I have come from UP, just to watch the match. I have come here for Virat Kohli...This crowd is here for Virat Kohli...

Another supporter echoed the sentiment, highlighting Kohli's unparalleled influence on Indian cricket.

Shantanu Mishra, a Cricket fan says, "There is a huge crowd (of viewers) here. I don't think there ever was such a crowd here for a Ranji match...This kind of turnout is only possible for Virat Kohli. Otherwise, there is no reason for such a large gathering at a Ranji Trophy match. Maybe in Mumbai, such crowds are common, but not in Delhi. This crowd is here for Virat Kohli."

Many fans had arrived at the venue in the early hours, hoping to secure the best possible view.

One devoted follower, Akash Kumar, who had been waiting since dawn, said, "I have been a huge fan of Virat Kohli since childhood. I have come from Sindhora Kalan. I have been here since 5.30 am to see him play. This is the first time I have seen such a crowd for a Ranji Trophy match. Everyone here is more excited for Kohli than anything else."

(With inputs from agencies)

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!