ISLAMABAD: Himanshu Sangwan is a name that will echo in the memories of Indian cricket enthusiasts for years to come. The young pacer dashed the hopes of fans eagerly awaiting Virat Kohli’s grand return to the Ranji Trophy by sending him back to the pavilion after just 6 runs.
Thousands gathered at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi for the much-anticipated showdown between Delhi and Railways, but Kohli’s time at the crease was cut short to a mere 15 deliveries. For the enthusiastic crowd, some of whom had come to witness Kohli don the jersey of a team he last played for 13 years ago, the excitement was fleeting.
In the 28th over of Delhi’s innings, Sangwan uprooted Kohli’s off-stump, prompting many fans to swiftly make their way out of the stadium, their hopes dashed in an instant.
Who is Himanshu Sangwan?
The 29-year-old speedster, born in Delhi on September 2, 1995, embarked on his professional journey by making his List A debut for the Railways in 2019. He made his mark in the 2019-20 Vijay Hazare Trophy, stepping onto the field on September 27.
Just a few weeks later, on November 8, Himanshu showcased his talent in the T20 arena during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, followed by his inaugural red-ball experience with Railways in the prestigious Ranji Trophy on December 9.
A model of consistency, Himanshu entered his Ranji Trophy clash against Delhi boasting an impressive tally of 77 first-class wickets accumulated over 23 matches. In the shorter formats, he has proven his mettle as well, claiming 21 List A wickets across 17 games and netting 5 T20 wickets from seven outings.
Meanwhile, in preparation for his first domestic red-ball appearance since November 2012, the legendary Kohli sought the expertise of former India coach Sanjay Bangar to refine his batting technique, addressing the issues that surfaced during the challenging tour of Australia, particularly with deliveries outside the off-stump that plagued him during the two-month excursion.
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As Kohli made his entrance to the crease, he was met with thunderous applause following Yash Dhull’s leg before wicket dismissal, just an hour into the day’s play at around 10:30 AM local time. After settling in with a couple of singles, Kohli shifted gears, aiming to assert his dominance over the right-arm pacer Sangwan.
Positioned well outside the crease, he launched a powerful strike, sending the ball soaring towards the straight boundary. Although still in the first session and with the ball exhibiting some movement, Kohli, in his quest to overpower Sangwan, miscalculated on the very next delivery—a good length ball. He went for an ambitious drive, completely missing it, and witnessed his off-stump sent flying in disarray.
