Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has made himself available for Delhi's next Ranji Trophy match against Saurashtra, beginning in Rajkot from January 23, DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma said on Tuesday.
However, there is no clarity over the participation of superstar Virat Kohli, who last featured in Ranji Trophy for Delhi back in 2012.
"Yes Pant has confirmed his availability for next Ranji game and will join the squad in Rajkot directly. About Virat Kohli, we want him to play but we haven't heard from him while Harshit Rana is selected in the T20 squad and hence is unavailable," Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) secretary Ashok Sharma told PTI.
There has also been intense debate around Kohli returning to Ranji Trophy to regain red ball form alongside Rohit. Kohli last played in Ranji Trophy in 2012.
Pant last played a Ranji Trophy match back in the 2017-2018 season.
Besides Kohli, Pant and Harshit Rana, Delhi have named 38 probables for the remaining two games. In Group D, Delhi are fourth in the standings with 14 points from five games.
The DDCA has revealed that they have not yet received any official communication from Kohli regarding his availability for the ongoing Ranji Trophy season.
Kohli's presence at the Ranji Trophy, if confirmed, will be closely monitored, as players' participation in state-level cricket remains a focal point in maintaining India's red-ball depth and competitiveness.
A source from DDCA told ANI, "We have not received an official intimation from Virat Kohli on his availability for the Ranji season."
"They were in the probables before the start of the season as well. But till now there is no clarity on whether they would be available for the next round," a DDCA official told PTI.
"Also, it doesn't make a lot of sense for them to play red ball cricket as India's next Test is only in June. It would be good for the Delhi team but I don't know how playing now will help Kohli and Pant when there is no Test cricket on the horizon," the official added.
This comes amidst the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)'s directive that players missing domestic matches during the home season must provide a valid reason, which will be reviewed by the National Cricket Academy (NCA) or their respective state association.
Former India veterans Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri are among many who want the current crop of players, especially the struggling Rohit Sharma and Kohli, to play red-ball cricket.
Besides Kohli, Pant and Harshit Rana, Delhi have named 38 probables for the remaining two games. Delhi play Saurashtra in Rajkot from January 23.
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma, India's Test and ODI captain, attended Mumbai's Ranji Trophy practice camp at the Wankhede Stadium earlier on Tuesday. His participation, though not yet confirmed for upcoming matches, signals his intent to remain involved in first-class cricket.
The BCCI's move to enforce accountability for domestic participation comes as part of their strategy to ensure match-readiness and form among national players. This follows India's recent 1-3 Test series loss in Australia, which sparked conversations about the importance of players staying connected to the domestic circuit.
According to ESPNCricinfo, Shubman Gill has also confirmed his availability for Punjab's upcoming Ranji Trophy sixth-round fixture against Karnataka, set to begin on January 23 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. While Punjab's squad is yet to be officially announced, Gill's inclusion would come as a welcome boost for the team.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar have emphasised the importance of India's top players contributing to their state teams to stay match-ready. Gill himself endured a difficult series in Australia, managing a highest score of 31 in five innings after recovering from a finger injury that had ruled him out of the first Test in Perth. He averaged 18.60 across the series.
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