NEW DELHI: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan on Thursday praised Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for their return to domestic cricket, calling it a fantastic move.
Rohit and Kohli’s participation in red-ball cricket at the domestic level has generated immense excitement among fans and young cricketers. Pathan emphasised that their presence not only strengthens the competition but also inspires budding players.
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Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Kohli, and captain Rohit were among the key Indian players who returned to domestic cricket, focusing on refining their batting rhythm while adhering to the fundamentals of the game.
While Jaiswal, Gill, and Rohit participated in the previous Ranji Trophy round, Kohli made his much-anticipated return to the tournament after 12 years, drawing thousands of fans as he represented Delhi against Railways.
At the Arun Jaitley Stadium, spectators eagerly filled the stands to witness their hometown hero in action. Kohli kept the energy high, engaging with the crowd and encouraging them to cheer loudly.
"It's great to see youngsters playing with or against players like Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma in domestic cricket. It wasn't happening for many years, but it's happening now. This is fantastic for Indian cricket. Hope the current Indian regulars make it a trend to play domestic cricket," Pathan wrote on X.
Pathan expressed his joy at seeing young talents share the field with stalwarts like Rohit and Kohli. He hoped that Indian regulars would continue featuring in domestic cricket, strengthening the game at the grassroots level.
