It was a day of heartbreak for the crowd at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. After Virat Kohli’s much-anticipated return to the Ranji Trophy ended in disappointment, captain Ayush Badoni fell agonisingly short of a well-deserved century in the first innings, dismissed for 99 against Railways in their crucial group game at home.

Badoni attempted to reach his hundred with a big shot in the 56th over of the innings. Batting on 99, he went for a slog sweep against seasoned leg-spinner Karn Sharma. However, instead of making a clean connection, he got a top-edge, which was safely caught inside the 30-yard circle.

For the second time in the day’s play, there was pin-drop silence at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Virat Kohli, seated in the dugout, looked visibly disappointed as the TV cameras panned towards him. Head coach Sarandeep Singh, too, could not believe what had just transpired, as Badoni squandered a brilliant start to his innings.

Badoni was visibly distraught, throwing his helmet away as he walked past the boundary line. He and Sumit Mathur had forged a crucial 133-run partnership for the fifth wicket after Delhi had been reduced to 97 for 4 in response to Railways’ total of 241.

Many fans had already left the stadium following Virat Kohli’s early dismissal in the first session. The anticipation at the Arun Jaitley Stadium had been immense, with Kohli making his Ranji Trophy return after 13 years. To accommodate the influx of fans, an extra stand was opened on Thursday, and the rush continued on Friday. The Gautam Gambhir Stand and the Bishan Singh Bedi Stand were packed to the rafters early in the morning, as fans eagerly awaited Kohli’s batting.

When overnight batter Yash Dhull was dismissed and Kohli walked out to bat in the first hour on Friday, the crowd erupted in celebration, cheering for their local hero. However, the excitement was short-lived as Kohli was bowled for just six runs.

Himanshu Sangwan claimed the prized wicket, sending Kohli’s off-stump cartwheeling.

However, Badoni launched a counter-attack, putting the pressure back on Railways. He struck three sixes and 12 boundaries, taking charge of the innings. The Lucknow Super Giants player was particularly aggressive against the spinners, confidently using his feet to dance down the track and dispatch them into the stands.

Badoni has enjoyed a resurgent run in the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy season. Entrusted with the captaincy, he has led from the front, amassing 499 runs in five matches in the premier domestic tournament. In addition to his batting exploits, he has also contributed with the ball, making effective use of his skills to support Delhi’s campaign.