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Xtra Time Web Desk: Virat Kohli is gearing up for his return to the Ranji Trophy after 13 years, playing for Delhi in the final group stage round against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, from January 30 to February 2. Kohli follows other prominent cricketers like Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who have returned to the domestic circuit after the BCCI made participation mandatory for senior team selection. While others featured in the previous round, Kohli missed Delhi's match against Saurashtra due to a neck injury.

Before arriving in Delhi, Kohli trained in Mumbai with former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar, focusing on facing short-pitched deliveries. On Tuesday, he joined Delhi's Ranji Trophy training session under captain Ayush Badoni. His return to the Arun Jaitley Stadium, where his career began, was met with excitement. Kohli appeared upbeat, engaging in light training before batting in the nets. He also enjoyed his favorite Kadhi Chawal for lunch at the stadium on his first day of practice. Kohli continued his preparations on Wednesday ahead of the match.

Read More: Virat Kohli at the nets! Watch what are the areas he is working on

To accommodate the expected crowd, security has been tightened at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, and two additional stands will be opened for free spectator entry starting Thursday, January 30. The BCCI will also livestream the match to allow fans to watch Kohli's highly anticipated return.

Kohli made his Ranji Trophy debut in November 2006 and played his last match in November 2012. Over 23 matches, he scored 1,547 runs, including five centuries. Here's a year-by-year breakdown of his Ranji Trophy performances:

• 2006-07: 6 matches, 257 runs, 1 fifty, highest score 90
• 2007-08: 5 matches, 373 runs, 2 hundreds, highest score 169
• 2008-09: 4 matches, 174 runs, 2 fifties, highest score 83
• 2009-10: 3 matches, 374 runs, 1 hundred, 2 fifties, highest score 145
• 2010-11: 4 matches, 339 runs, 2 hundreds, highest score 173
• 2012-13: 1 match, 57 runs, highest score 43

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Notable Milestones in Kohli’s Ranji Trophy Career:

• First Match: Kohli made his Ranji debut in November 2006 against Tamil Nadu, scoring 10 runs in his first innings.
• Gutsy Knock After Father's Death: In his first season, Kohli played a remarkable innings against Karnataka after the death of his father, Prem. He resumed his innings after his father’s funeral, scoring 90 runs in a match that ended in a draw.
• First Century: Kohli’s first Ranji century came in the 2007-08 season, scoring 106 against Rajasthan. He helped Delhi win the match by 172 runs.
• Kohli vs. Mumbai Stars in 2007: Kohli faced Mumbai's star players like Rohit Sharma, Ajit Agarkar, and Abhishek Nayar in a match that ended in a draw.
• Last Ranji Appearance in 2012: Kohli’s final Ranji match in 2012 was against Uttar Pradesh, where he scored 14 and 43 in the two innings.

Virat Kohli's Ranji Trophy Record:

• Matches: 23
• Runs: 1,547
• Centuries: 5