Virat Kohli’s much-anticipated return to the Ranji Trophy ended in a flash – just 15 balls. The excitement at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium was palpable as the Indian cricket superstar walked out to bat and he was greeted by a loud roar from the packed stands but within minutes, the jubilation turned to stunned silence. Railways pacer Himanshu Sangwan sent Kohli’s off-stump flying in the air as Virat got bowled out for just six runs. Fans got disappointed as Virat Kohli’s return to Ranji after 12 years ended in just 23 minutes but this was definitely a moment to cherish forever for Himanshu Sangwan.
Moments before his dismissal, Virat Kohli had produced a trademark stroke, drilling the ball past Sangwan for a thumping boundary. The crowd erupted, sensing something special. Even Delhi’s coach Sarandeep Singh and Virat Kohli’s teammates applauded in anticipation of a big innings.
It was the start everyone had hoped for – a sign, perhaps, of Kohli’s resurgence. But then came the next ball. Virat Kohli attempted to replicate his shot, stepping forward, aligning himself perfectly. However, the length had changed ever so slightly and before he could adjust, the ball crashed into his off-stump.
For Himanshu Sangwan, it was a career-defining moment. At 29, with 24 First-Class matches under his belt, he may never bowl to a bigger name than Virat Kohli. Just one ball earlier, he had overpitched, conceding that crisp boundary. But he regrouped, adjusted his length and executed his plan to perfection and this was indeed one of the most talked about dismissals in domestic cricket. While Virat Kohli walked off disappointed, Himanshu Sangwan celebrated wildly, fully aware of the magnitude of his achievement.
Social media instantly erupted; fans dissected the dismissal, while others took their reactions to extremes. In an attempt to shield himself from the expected backlash, Sangwan had already set his Instagram profile to private, sparking speculation that he had “manifested” Virat Kohli’s wicket. Clarifying the situation, Himanshu Sangwan later stated that he has always kept his Instagram account private and he didn’t make it private before the match against Delhi.
However, that didn’t stop an unfortunate case of mistaken identity from spiraling out of control. Another individual with the same name, ‘Himanshu Sangwan,’ was bombarded with abuse, forcing him to post an Instagram story clarifying that he was not the cricketer. Even former pacer Pradeep Sangwan, a one-time Delhi teammate of Virat Kohli, found himself at the receiving end of unwarranted trolling, with his social media flooded with distasteful comments.
For Virat Kohli, there might still be another chance to bat in this match but given Delhi captain Ayush Badoni’s remarkable knock of 99, that opportunity remains uncertain. Moreover, among Himanshu Sangwan’s 79 and counting First-Class wickets, none will rank higher than this.
