Before Returning to Ranji Cricket, Virat Kohli Added ‘This’ Desi Tadka to His Life
Here's how Virat Kohli spend his few days before returning to Ranji Trophy.
Virat Kohli returned to the Ranji Trophy after 12 years. He wants to work on his backfoot game and overcome other shortcomings. His arrival at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on January 30 in Delhi was special, as thousands of fans gathered to watch him play. Such a huge crowd for a Ranji Trophy match is rare, and it was all because of Kohli.
However, before stepping onto the field, Kohli spent the last few days in a way that brought back memories from his early cricketing days. Let’s take a look at what he did before playing the Ranji Trophy match.
Meeting Childhood Friends and Coach
During a training session with the Delhi Ranji Trophy team on January 28, Kohli met his childhood friend Shawez Khan. It was a heartwarming moment as the two friends hugged and took pictures together. Shawez’s son was also present, and Kohli spent some time with him as well.
Later, Kohli also met Delhi’s head coach Sarandeep Singh and batting coach Bantu Singh. It was a nostalgic moment for him, reconnecting with people from his early cricketing days.
Enjoying Desi Food Before the Match
Kohli, who is known for his strict fitness routine and vegan diet, was once a big foodie during his childhood and Under-19 days. Returning to Arun Jaitley Stadium brought back old memories for him.
In the past, Kohli has spoken about his love for food. However, to stay fit, he has been following a strict diet for years. When he arrived at the stadium for a practice session before the Ranji Trophy match against Railways, the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) arranged his favorite ‘chole-puri.’
A senior DDCA official revealed, “He loves chole-puri, and we had made arrangements, but he said he wouldn’t eat it.”
However, after training, Kohli joined his teammates for a meal and enjoyed a plate of kadhi chawal, just like the old times.
Meanwhile, Sanjay Jha, who has been the chef at DDCA for the past 20 years, shared an interesting detail. He revealed what Kohli requested for lunch on Day 1 of the Ranji Trophy match.
“When he was young, he used to love chicken chilli, but this time, he asked me to make chilli paneer,” Jha told The Indian Express.
“He personally met me after the training session and requested it. He even called me by my name, ‘Sanjay ji.’ He has become so big now, but he still remembers my name.”
