DDCA uncertain about Virat Kohli's participation in Ranji Trophy game against Railways despite recommended rest for Saurashtra match

Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma faced criticism for their poor performance in Test cricket last year. However, their responses to the backlash were different. The Indian captain, Kohli, decided to heed the criticism by making himself available for Mumbai's next Ranji Trophy game against Jammu and Kashmir after BCCI made domestic cricket compulsory for selection. On the other hand, Rohit Sharma opted out of Delhi's upcoming red-ball game against Saurashtra citing a neck injury. This has left the Delhi selection committee uncertain about whether Kohli will be participating in the final group game against Railways.

The second half of the 2024/25 Ranji Trophy season is scheduled to begin on January 23. Amid the criticism over Kohli's absence from domestic cricket since 2012, the Delhi & Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) named the former India captain as part of probables for Delhi's last two group games.

However, the 36-year-old opted out of the game against Saurashtra, with a senior DDCA official telling news agency PTI that the selectors are still unsure whether Kohli will turn up for the match against Railways at home, starting January 31. Kohli is reportedly suffering from a neck niggle.

"Kohli has been advised rest because of a neck sprain sustained during the final Test against Australia at Sydney. He is not available for the Saurashtra game. About the Railways game, which is also Delhi's last league encounter, we are still not sure," said the official on conditions of anonymity.

Pant to play for Delhi; KL Rahul out

After the BCCI made domestic cricket participation mandatory, only two India stars are set to miss out on their respective Ranji Trophy fixtures -- Kohli for Delhi and KL Rahul for Karnataka due to an elbow niggle. Meanwhile, other big names have made themselves available, which include India skipper Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal (Mumbai vs J&K), Rishabh Pant (Delhi vs Saurashtra), and Shubman Gill (Punjab vs Karnataka).

Contrary to earlier reports, not Pant, but Ayush Badoni will continue to lead the Delhi side. The decision came after Pant, according to a report in PTI, told the DDCA top boss Jaitley that he wouldn't like any tinkering of leadership just for a single game when his Lucknow Super Giants colleague is doing a fine job. He wanted continuity in leadership.

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