Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) president Rohan Jaitley has revealed the reason behind the delayed felicitation of Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli. Due to COVID-19 restrictions and Kohli’s unavailability, the governing body was unable to honor him earlier. The felicitation was finally conducted on Day 2 of the Ranji Trophy fixture between Delhi and Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Virat Kohli, who returned to domestic cricket after 13 years, was celebrated by thousands of fans in the stadium. Following the second day’s play, DDCA officials presented the batting maestro with a special memento in recognition of his immense contribution to Indian cricket.
Explaining the delay, Jaitley stated that when Kohli played his 100th Test match, COVID-19 restrictions were in place, preventing a grand celebration. Later, DDCA planned to felicitate Kohli after India’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, but he was out of town. Hence, the association found this to be the perfect opportunity to honor him.
“Covid restrictions were in place when Virat played his 100th Test match. We announced felicitating him after the T20 World Cup win, but he was unavailable and out of town. The felicitation was meant to acknowledge his inspiration for Delhi and Indian cricket, and his immense contribution to the game,” Jaitley told India TV in an exclusive interview.
Jaitley also emphasized the significance of Kohli’s return to domestic cricket, stating that it would serve as a morale booster for young cricketers. He believes that having senior players like Kohli participate in domestic tournaments can serve as a grooming exercise for emerging talents and enhance their performance.
“It’s a monumental period when an experienced player returns to domestic cricket, helping in the grooming of youngsters. The whole process of practice, being with the team, and the dressing room experience acts as a learning opportunity. We will also reach out to senior players to make this a routine, as it boosts morale and improves performance,” he added.
In addition, Jaitley announced that DDCA is actively working on the development of a high-performance unit and a new state-of-the-art stadium to further uplift the standards of cricket infrastructure in Delhi.
As the Ranji Trophy match progresses, fans will be eager to see Kohli’s impact on the game while celebrating his return to domestic cricket after more than a decade.