Virat Kohli Subject To Availability; Pant Opts Out Of Delhi Captaincy For Ranji Trophy

Virat Kohli with Rishabh Pant [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X]

Rishabh Pant has reportedly opted himself out of Delhi captaincy for their upcoming Ranji Trophy 2025 match against Saurashtra in Rajkot between January 23 and January 26. Ayush Badoni, who led Delhi before the white-ball induced break back in November, will likely continue to lead the team.

Apart from Pant, fellow Indian international Virat Kohli is also subject to availability. As per reports, the legendary Indian batter was treated for a neck niggle during India’s series-deciding fifth Test match against Australia at the SCG earlier this month.

Kohli and Pant updates for Ranji return

Virat Kohli is expected to inform DDCA President Rohan Jaitley about his participation in Delhi’s Ranji Trophy 2024-25 match against Saurashtra by the end of day on Friday, January 17. Certain reports indicate that the 36-year-old had a neck niggle in Australia during India’s fifth Test match at the SCG.

Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant is also on course to play Delhi’s Ranji Trophy match, albeit purely as a player despite reports indicating that the blistering Indian stumper will serve the team as captain. Ayush Badoni has been appointed as skipper instead, a role he previously held back until November a couple of months ago before the white-ball segment of the Indian domestic season.

Both Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant struggled to score runs against Australia ‘Down Under’, as Team India went on to lose the five-match series by a 1-3 margin to concede the ‘Border-Gavaskar’ Trophy Test title for the first time in over a decade.

Soon after Delhi’s Ranji Trophy match, the two cricketers will likely return to the Indian team for the ODI series against England, which itself serves as a prelude to the next month’s 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in the UAE.

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