Cricket is more than just a game in India—it’s a passion that unites millions. When the Railways Cricket Team vs Delhi Cricket Team Match Scorecard in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season, fans were in for a treat, especially with the return of cricketing legend Virat Kohli to domestic cricket after over a decade. This Elite Group D match, played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi from January 30 to February 1, 2025, was a spectacle, drawing over 15,000 fans on the first day alone. Despite the hype around Kohli, the match showcased stellar performances from both teams, with Delhi emerging victorious by an innings and 19 runs. Let’s dive into the details of this exciting encounter, breaking down the scorecard, key moments, and what made this match unforgettable.

The Build-Up to the Match

The Ranji Trophy is India’s premier domestic first-class cricket competition, and this clash was part of the final round of the 2024-25 league stage. Both teams were fighting for pride, with Railways holding a slim chance of qualifying for the knockouts with 17 points from six matches, while Delhi, with 14 points, needed a miracle to advance. The spotlight, however, was firmly on Virat Kohli, who was making his first Ranji Trophy appearance since 2012. His return to his home ground at Arun Jaitley Stadium turned the match into a festival, with fans flocking to see their hero in action.

Delhi, led by captain Ayush Badoni, opted to bowl first after winning the toss, a decision that set the tone for their dominance. Railways, captained by Suraj Ahuja, were up against a formidable Delhi bowling attack, and the stage was set for an intriguing battle.

Day 1: Railways’ First Innings and Delhi’s Early Response

Railways’ Struggles and Resilience

Railways started their first innings on a shaky note. Delhi’s pacers, led by Navdeep Saini, Siddhant Sharma, and Money Grewal, made the most of the swinging and seaming conditions at Arun Jaitley Stadium. By lunch, Railways were reeling at 87/5, having lost key batsmen like Anchit Yadav (7), Vivek Singh (0), and Suraj Ahuja (14) early. Mohammad Saif (24) and Upendra Yadav offered some resistance with a 45-run partnership for the fourth wicket, but Grewal’s double strike left Railways in trouble.

The tide turned in the second session, thanks to a gritty 104-run partnership between Upendra Yadav and Karn Sharma. Upendra, the wicketkeeper-batter, played a patient knock of 95 off 177 balls, falling just short of a well-deserved century. Karn Sharma contributed a vital 50 off 105 balls, helping Railways recover to 182/7 by tea. However, Navdeep Saini’s twin strikes and Sumit Mathur’s disciplined bowling ensured Railways were bowled out for 241 in 67.4 overs. Mathur (3/20) and Saini (3/62) were the pick of the bowlers, with Grewal and Siddhant Sharma chipping in with two wickets each.

Delhi’s Steady Start

Delhi’s response began cautiously, with openers Arpit Rana and Sanat Sangwan facing a testing period late on Day 1. Rana fell early for 6, caught behind off Kunal Yadav, but Yash Dhull (17*) and Sanat Sangwan (9*) saw Delhi through to stumps at 41/1 in 10 overs, trailing by 200 runs. The stage was set for Day 2, with fans eagerly awaiting Kohli’s appearance at the crease.

Day 2: Delhi’s Dominance and Kohli’s Brief Cameo

Virat Kohli’s Much-Awaited Return

Day 2 began with all eyes on Virat Kohli, who walked in to bat at No. 4 after Yash Dhull’s dismissal for 33. The crowd erupted as Kohli took guard, but his stay was short-lived. Facing Railways’ pacer Himanshu Sangwan, a senior ticket collector at New Delhi Railway Station, Kohli struggled to find his rhythm. Attempting an expansive drive, he was clean bowled for just 6 runs off 15 balls, with his off-stump cartwheeling. The stadium fell silent, disappointed but still buzzing with admiration for their local hero.

Delhi’s Batting Masterclass

Despite Kohli’s early exit, Delhi’s batting lineup rallied impressively. Skipper Ayush Badoni led from the front with a blistering 99 off 77 balls, falling agonizingly short of a century when he was caught trying to slog-sweep Karn Sharma. Sumit Mathur anchored the innings with a patient 86 off 206 balls, forming a crucial 103-run partnership with Badoni. Pranav Rajuvanshi (28) and Shivam Sharma (10) also contributed, helping Delhi surpass Railways’ total. By stumps, Delhi were 334/7, leading by 93 runs, with Mathur (78*) and Siddhant Sharma (15*) unbeaten. Himanshu Sangwan was the standout bowler for Railways, claiming 4/55, while Kunal Yadav took 3/104.

Day 3: Delhi Seal the Deal

Railways’ Second Innings Collapse

Railways began Day 3 needing to erase a 133-run deficit to make Delhi bat again. However, Delhi’s bowlers, led by off-spinner Shivam Sharma, had other plans. Railways’ second innings crumbled quickly, with early wickets of Suraj Ahuja (4) and Vivek Singh (12) setting the tone. Mohammad Saif top-scored with 31, and Ayan Chaudhari remained not out on 30, but the rest of the batting order failed to resist. Shivam Sharma’s sensational five-wicket haul (5/33) dismantled Railways, who were bowled out for 114 in 30.5 overs. Anchit Yadav was absent hurt, and Ayush Badoni took the final wicket of Kunal Yadav to seal the victory. Navdeep Saini (1/18) and Money Grewal (1/19) supported Sharma’s heroics.

Delhi’s Emphatic Victory

Delhi wrapped up the match before lunch on Day 3, securing a commanding victory by an innings and 19 runs. Sumit Mathur was named Player of the Match for his all-round performance, scoring 86 and taking 3/20 in Railways’ first innings. While Kohli’s brief stint disappointed fans, Delhi’s clinical performance ensured they ended their Ranji Trophy campaign on a high, even though they missed out on the knockouts.

Railways Cricket Team vs Delhi Cricket Team Match Scorecard, Ranji Trophy 2024-25

Below is the detailed scorecard of the match, capturing every key moment:

Railways Cricket Team vs Delhi Cricket Team Match Scorecard – Ranji Trophy 2024-25, Elite Group D

Match Details

• Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi

• Dates: January 30 – February 1, 2025

• Toss: Delhi won the toss and elected to bowl

• Result: Delhi won by an innings and 19 runs

• Player of the Match: Sumit Mathur (Delhi) – 86 runs & 3/20

Railways 1st Innings

Total: 241/10 (67.4 overs, Run Rate: 2.64)

Batsman	Dismissal	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	Strike Rate
Anchit Yadav	lbw b Siddhant Sharma	7	9	1	0	77.78
Vivek Singh	b Navdeep Saini	0	14	0	0	0.00
Suraj Ahuja (c)	c Shivam Sharma b Siddhant Sharma	14	14	3	0	100.00
Mohammad Saif	c Pranav Rajuvanshi b Money Grewal	24	54	4	0	44.44
Upendra Yadav (wk)	c Shivam Sharma b Sumit Mathur	95	177	10	1	53.67
Bhargav Merai	lbw b Money Grewal	0	1	0	0	0.00
Karn Sharma	c Yash Dhull b Navdeep Saini	50	105	7	1	47.62
Ayan Chaudhari	c Yash Dhull b Navdeep Saini	0	1	0	0	0.00
Himanshu Sangwan	c Pranav Rajuvanshi b Sumit Mathur	18	28	3	0	64.29
Rahul Sharma	c Ayush Badoni b Sumit Mathur	4	7	1	0	57.14
Kunal Yadav	not out	8	8	1	0	100.00

Extras: 21 (b 5, lb 10, w 1, nb 5)
Fall of Wickets: 7/1 (Anchit Yadav, 1.3), 21/2 (Suraj Ahuja, 5.6), 21/3 (Vivek Singh, 6.1), 66/4 (Mohammad Saif, 19.3), 66/5 (Bhargav Merai, 19.4), 170/6 (Karn Sharma, 52.4), 170/7 (Ayan Chaudhari, 52.5), 229/8 (Upendra Yadav, 65.2), 240/9 (Himanshu Sangwan, 67.1), 241/10 (Rahul Sharma, 67.4)

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets	Economy
Navdeep Saini	18	4	62	3	3.44
Siddhant Sharma	14	3	51	2	3.64
Money Grewal	15	4	44	2	2.93
Sumit Mathur	10.4	3	20	3	1.87
Shivam Sharma	10	1	49	0	4.90

Delhi 1st Innings

Total: 374/10 (106.4 overs, Run Rate: 4.33)

Batsman	Dismissal	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	Strike Rate
Arpit Rana	c Suraj Ahuja b Kunal Yadav	6	6	1	0	100.00
Sanat Sangwan	c Suraj Ahuja b Himanshu Sangwan	29	88	4	0	32.95
Yash Dhull	c Upendra Yadav b Himanshu Sangwan	33	65	5	0	50.76
Virat Kohli	b Himanshu Sangwan	6	15	1	0	40.00
Ayush Badoni (c)	c Mohammad Saif b Karn Sharma	99	77	11	1	128.57
Sumit Mathur	c Upendra Yadav b Kunal Yadav	86	206	10	0	41.75
Pranav Rajuvanshi (wk)	c Suraj Ahuja b Himanshu Sangwan	28	50	4	0	56.00
Shivam Sharma	lbw b Karn Sharma	10	20	2	0	50.00
Siddhant Sharma	c Suraj Ahuja b Kunal Yadav	15	30	2	0	50.00
Navdeep Saini	not out	10	15	2	0	66.67
Money Grewal	c Suraj Ahuja b Rahul Sharma	6	12	1	0	50.00

Extras: 46 (b 10, lb 15, w 5, nb 16)
Fall of Wickets: 11/1 (Arpit Rana, 1.6), 78/2 (Yash Dhull, 23.5), 86/3 (Virat Kohli, 27.4), 97/4 (Sanat Sangwan, 29.1), 230/5 (Ayush Badoni, 55.3), 293/6 (Pranav Rajuvanshi, 80.4), 310/7 (Shivam Sharma, 87.5), 348/8 (Siddhant Sharma, 99.6), 358/9 (Sumit Mathur, 102.3), 374/10 (Money Grewal, 106.4)

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets	Economy
Kunal Yadav	29	5	104	3	3.58
Himanshu Sangwan	25.4	6	55	4	2.14
Ayan Chaudhari	15	2	60	0	4.00
Karn Sharma	22	3	85	2	3.86
Rahul Sharma	15	2	45	1	3.00

Railways 2nd Innings

Total: 114/9 (30.5 overs, Run Rate: 3.71)

Batsman	Dismissal	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	Strike Rate
Suraj Ahuja (c)	c Pranav Rajuvanshi b Navdeep Saini	4	10	1	0	40.00
Vivek Singh	c Yash Dhull b Siddhant Sharma	12	25	2	0	48.00
Mohammad Saif	c Sumit Mathur b Shivam Sharma	31	31	5	0	100.00
Bhargav Merai	lbw b Shivam Sharma	0	4	0	0	0.00
Upendra Yadav (wk)	lbw b Money Grewal	17	19	3	0	89.47
Karn Sharma	lbw b Shivam Sharma	12	27	2	0	44.44
Himanshu Sangwan	b Shivam Sharma	1	7	0	0	14.29
Ayan Chaudhari	not out	30	30	5	0	100.00
Rahul Sharma	c Sumit Mathur b Shivam Sharma	3	17	0	0	17.65
Kunal Yadav	c Money Grewal b Ayush Badoni	0	6	0	0	0.00
Anchit Yadav	absent hurt	0	0	0	0	–

Extras: 4 (b 0, lb 3, w 0, nb 1)
Fall of Wickets: 1/1 (Suraj Ahuja, 1.6), 31/2 (Vivek Singh, 8.1), 56/3 (Mohammad Saif, 12.2), 57/4 (Bhargav Merai, 13.2), 76/5 (Upendra Yadav, 19.3), 80/6 (Karn Sharma, 20.5), 82/7 (Himanshu Sangwan, 22.4), 100/8 (Rahul Sharma, 28.2), 114/9 (Kunal Yadav, 30.5)

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets	Economy
Navdeep Saini	6	1	18	1	3.00
Siddhant Sharma	5	0	20	1	4.00
Shivam Sharma	11	2	33	5	3.00
Money Grewal	5	0	19	1	3.80
Sumit Mathur	3	0	8	0	2.67
Ayush Badoni	0.5	0	2	1	2.40

Match Summary

• Railways 1st Innings: 241/10 (67.4 overs)

• Delhi 1st Innings: 374/10 (106.4 overs)

• Railways 2nd Innings: 114/9 (30.5 overs)

• Result: Delhi won by an innings and 19 runs

Key Performances and Moments

Standout Players

• Sumit Mathur (Delhi): The Player of the Match, Mathur’s 86 runs and 3/20 in Railways’ first innings were pivotal in Delhi’s dominance. His steady batting and tight bowling turned the game in Delhi’s favor.
• Ayush Badoni (Delhi): The captain’s aggressive 99 off 77 balls set the tone for Delhi’s commanding first-innings lead. His leadership and final wicket sealed the victory.
• Shivam Sharma (Delhi): His five-wicket haul (5/33) in Railways’ second innings was the knockout punch, ensuring a swift end to the match.
• Upendra Yadav (Railways): His resilient 95 in the first innings was the backbone of Railways’ total, giving them a fighting chance.
• Himanshu Sangwan (Railways): The pacer’s 4/55, including the prized wicket of Virat Kohli, was a highlight for Railways.

Memorable Moments

• Kohli’s Return: Despite his brief 6-run knock, Kohli’s presence electrified the atmosphere, with over 15,000 fans creating a carnival-like vibe.
• Badoni’s Near-Century: Ayush Badoni’s 99 was a captain’s knock, blending aggression with responsibility to steer Delhi to a strong position.
• Shivam’s Fifer: Shivam Sharma’s five wickets on Day 3 showcased his skill as an off-spinner, wrapping up the match in style.
• Fan Frenzy: The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) had to open additional gates to accommodate the massive crowd, with some fans arriving as early as 3 AM to catch a glimpse of Kohli.

Why This Match Mattered

This match was more than just a Ranji Trophy fixture—it was a celebration of cricket’s enduring appeal in India. Virat Kohli’s return brought global attention to domestic cricket, reminding fans of the importance of the Ranji Trophy in nurturing talent. For Delhi, the victory was a morale booster, showcasing their depth despite missing key players like Rishabh Pant. Railways, though defeated, displayed resilience through Upendra Yadav and Karn Sharma’s efforts, proving they could compete with stronger sides.

The match also highlighted the unpredictability of cricket. While fans expected a Kohli masterclass, it was the likes of Sumit Mathur, Ayush Badoni, and Shivam Sharma who stole the show. This unpredictability is what makes cricket so captivating, as every player, from a superstar to a domestic stalwart, can turn the game on its head.

Conclusion

The Railways Cricket Team vs Delhi Cricket Team Match Scorecard of 2024-25 was a thrilling contest that combined star power, gritty performances, and a passionate crowd. Delhi’s comprehensive victory by an innings and 19 runs was a testament to their all-round strength, with Sumit Mathur emerging as the hero. While Virat Kohli’s brief cameo didn’t live up to expectations, his presence elevated the match’s stature, drawing thousands to the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The detailed scorecard above captures the essence of this memorable clash, showcasing the numbers behind the drama.