Virat Kohli’s highly much-anticipated return to the Ranji Trophy was cut short on Friday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, as he was dismissed for just six runs by Himanshu Sangwan.

Kohli showed a flash of brilliance with a well-timed straight drive off Sangwan, just a ball before his untimely departure. However, the very next delivery proved to be his undoing. Angling in on a fullish length just outside off, the ball seamed sharply in as Kohli went for a drive, leaving a gap between bat and pad. The delivery crashed into the off-stump, sending the bails flying and leaving Kohli’s stay at the crease over after just 15 balls and one boundary to his name.

It was a memorable moment for Sangwan, who not only claimed the prized wicket of the Indian superstar but also watched the stands empty soon after Kohli’s dismissal. Delhi was left at 87/3, still trailing Railways by 140 runs.

For the thousands of fans who had packed the stadium in anticipation of a Kohli masterclass, the early exit was a moment of disappointment. However, there remains hope for redemption, as Kohli may yet have a chance to make his mark should Delhi get a second innings.

The atmosphere at the Delhi stadium was electric on Day 1, an unusual sight for a domestic cricket match, with fans eager to see their hero in action following a string of underwhelming performances. To accommodate the large crowd, extra gates were opened and additional security was deployed. According to ESPNCricinfo, over 15,000 fans attended the match.

In a rather unusual incident, a fan breached security and rushed onto the field to meet Kohli. At the time, Delhi’s opening bowlers, Navdeep Saini and Siddhant Sharma, had Railways in trouble at 21/3. The fan managed to evade security, reached Kohli, and touched his feet. Security personnel quickly intervened and escorted the intruder off the field. Kohli, known for his calmness, requested that the fan be treated lightly and that no harsh action be taken.