In a heartwarming display of sportsmanship, Virat Kohli signed the match ball for Gujarat's Vishal Jayswal, who dismissed him during a Vijay Hazare Trophy match between Delhi and Gujarat on Friday. The match, held at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, saw Delhi narrowly defeat Gujarat by seven runs.
Kohli, playing for Delhi, was in fine form, scoring a fluent 77 off 61 balls, including 13 fours and a six. He looked set for another century after his impressive 131 against Andhra in the previous match. However, the 27-year-old left-arm orthodox spinner, Vishal Jayswal, outfoxed him with a well-flighted delivery that spun away from Kohli's outside edge. Kohli stepped out of his crease to attack, but the sharp turn beat him, leading to an easy stumping for the wicketkeeper, Urvil Patel.
Despite the crucial wicket, Gujarat couldn't capitalize on the momentum. A middle-order collapse led to them being bowled out for 247 in 47.4 overs, chasing Delhi's total of 254/9. Jayswal, though, had a memorable day, finishing with figures of 4/42 in his 10 overs. Besides Kohli, he also dismissed Delhi opener Arpit Rana, Nitish Rana, and captain Rishabh Pant.
After the game, Kohli's gesture towards Jayswal won hearts. He not only signed the match ball for the young bowler but also posed for a picture with him. Jayswal, visibly delighted, shared the picture on his Instagram account, captioning it, "From watching him on TV to sharing the field. Grateful for moments like these". He also posted a video of Kohli's dismissal.
Jayswal expressed his admiration for Kohli, stating, "From watching him dominate world cricket to sharing the same field and taking his wicket is a moment I never imagined would turn into reality". He added, "Getting Virat Bhai's wicket is a memory I will always treasure".
Kohli's sporting gesture was a testament to his respect for the game and its players. Despite being a seasoned international cricketer, he acknowledged and appreciated Jayswal's achievement, making it a moment the young bowler would cherish forever.
For Jayswal, who made his debut for Gujarat in 2022, this was a significant moment in his career. The 27-year-old is also a useful all-rounder, with a century and a fifty in first-class cricket. He was the best bowler in the Col CK Nayudu Trophy in the 2022-23 season, where he took 70 wickets at an average of 15.75.
Kohli, meanwhile, is unlikely to play the next few Vijay Hazare Trophy matches. He may feature in another game before the ODI series against New Zealand, which starts on January 11.
