Watch: KL Rahul receives Virat Kohli-like treatment from Bengaluru crowd on his Ranji Trophy return
Published - 30 Jan 2025, 02:44 PM | Updated - 30 Jan 2025, 11:35 PM
Table of Contents
Indian wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul was welcomed wholeheartedly by the Karnataka fans, as the local boy made a comeback to the Ranji Trophy after five years. On Thursday, January 30, Rahul made a return to Ranji cricket for Karnataka in their last group match of the ongoing season against Haryana.
His return was nothing short of electric during the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25 clash between Karnataka and Haryana at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The moment KL Rahul stepped onto his home ground, the entire stadium erupted in excitement, with fans chanting his name in unison.
KL Rahul receives the warmest welcome from Karnataka fans on his Ranji return
The entire stadium echoed with chants of Rahul's name. The atmosphere at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru was charged with energy as the crowd showed their love and admiration for Rahul.
However, the Chinnaswamy was not as packed as Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium to watch Virat Kohli, but Karnataka fans made sure that Rahul got a hero’s welcome. Now, the video of the heartwarming moment is going viral on social media.
THE RECEPTION FOR KL RAHUL AT HIS HOME GROUND 📢
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 30, 2025
- Rahul returning to Ranji after 5 years. pic.twitter.com/4NlxpwC6RX
KL Rahul fails to deliver in Ranji Trophy 2024-25 comeback match for Karnataka
However, KL Rahul failed to live up to the hype and expectations in his comeback match. The right-handed batter was dismissed for 26 runs off 37 balls during Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy 2024-25 Group C match against Haryana at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Thursday.
Batting at No. 3, Rahul stitched a solid 54-run partnership with Karnataka’s skipper Mayank Agarwal for the second wicket. However, his innings came to an end when pacer Anshul Kamboj got him out. A faint edge off Rahul’s bat was caught by wicketkeeper RP Sharma, ending his nearly one-hour stay at the crease.
The Indian batter is playing his first Ranji Trophy match since February 2020, when he faced Bengal in the semifinal at Eden Gardens. In that game, he scored 26 and 0, and Karnataka had suffered a 174-run defeat against Bengal. Rahul had missed Karnataka's previous match in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25 against Punjab due to an elbow injury.
KL Rahul set to play in Champions Trophy 2025
His last domestic appearance was in the Duleep Trophy in September 2024, where he played for India A. On the other hand, Karnataka is currently sitting in third place in Group C, and now they will have to beat Haryana to stay alive in the tournament.
Speaking about the match, Karnataka has lost three wickets for 165 runs with Mayank Agarwal being dismissed for 91 runs off 149 balls against Haryana in the ongoing Ranji clash. Karnataka opener KV Aneesh was dismissed for 17 runs off 76 balls by Anshul Kamboj in Bengaluru.
Notably, KL Rahul will be soon seen in action for India in the upcoming three-match ODI series followed by the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The 32-year-old has so far played 103 first-class matches and amassed 7262 runs with the help of 18 centuries and 36 half-centuries.
Rahul had a good season with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) last year, but he was released, and he is now set to play for Delhi Capitals (DC) in the upcoming IPL 2025.
