India batter Virat Kohli's highly anticipated return to the Ranji Trophy didn't quite go as planned as the veteran player's innings was cut short, lasting a mere 23 minutes and 15 balls, as he managed to score just 6 runs.

Despite Kohli's modest individual performance, his team Delhi emerged victorious, defeating Railways by an innings and 19 runs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Meanwhile, Kohli's return to the Ranji Trophy after a 12-year hiatus has drawn praise from his former teammate Ravichandran Ashwin, who has hailed the batting legend's decision to participate in the premier domestic tournament once again.

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Ashwin believes that Kohli still has a lot to offer and can continue to serve Indian cricket for many years to come. However, Ashwin also took a swipe at some fans who reacted to Kohli's participation in the Ranji Trophy by saying "Ranji Trophy is blessed".

Ashwin seemed to imply that these fans were being dismissive of the tournament's value, and that Kohli's participation was not a blessing, but rather a testament to the tournament's importance.

"It's a great thing when it comes to Virat Kohli. He is extremely motivated. I know that. His intention is to play Test cricket and do well. I actually think he has a lot left in the tank. But all said and done, the crowd that turned up, it was great. Such crowds should be there for every Ranji Trophy match," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel 'Ash Ki Baat'.

Ashwin emphasized that the tournament has a rich history of nurturing and producing some of India's most talented cricketers, and its value should be respected and acknowledged.

"I saw one tweet saying 'Ranji Trophy is blessed'. I would just say, pay some attention. Do you even know the history of the Ranji Trophy? It has been going on for so many years. It has been a premier tournament," said Ashwin.

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"Sachin Tendulkar, who is a legendary cricketer, used to play the Ranji Trophy at all times. Players benefit from playing in the tournament. For cricket, players are not important, but for players, cricket is very important," he added.

Meanwhile talking about the star batter's Ranji return, Kohli's presence made the Ranji Trophy tie between Delhi and Railways one of the biggest draws, and more than 12,000 fans turned up on the first two days of the match. The former India captain has been struggling for runs of late. The batter has found the going tough and has been found out, especially against the deliveries bowled outside his off-stump.