Bengaluru – In a heartwarming moment that transcended the competitive spirit of cricket, Virat Kohli, the batting maestro, was seen signing a ball and posing for a photograph with Vishal Jayswal, the Gujarat spinner who dismissed him in a recent Vijay Hazare Trophy match. The incident occurred after Delhi's narrow seven-run victory against Gujarat at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1 in Bengaluru on Friday.
Kohli, playing for Delhi, had a significant impact on the match, scoring aPlayer of the Match-worthy 77 off 61 balls, including 13 fours and a six. His innings helped Delhi reach a total of 254/9 in their 50 overs. However, it was Jayswal who eventually brought an end to Kohli's innings, dismissing him and giving Gujarat a crucial breakthrough.
Despite the dismissal, Kohli displayed remarkable sportsmanship after the game. He signed the very ball that led to his wicket for Jayswal. The Gujarat spinner, understandably elated, seized the opportunity to capture the moment with a photograph alongside the cricket icon.
Jayswal later expressed his feelings on social media, sharing the picture and writing, "Never imagined this would happen. Virat Kohli, you are an inspiration". This gesture from Kohli was particularly significant for Jayswal, who comes from humble beginnings and has worked his way up through the ranks of domestic cricket.
Kohli's innings was pivotal in the match, as Delhi secured a close victory. Kohli came to the crease early after Delhi lost their first wicket. He quickly asserted his dominance, and raced to 30 off just 16 balls. Despite the quick start, Kohli had to adjust his approach as wickets fell around him. He eventually reached his half-century off 29 balls.
With this win, Delhi climbed to the top of the Group D points table. Kohli's performance also marked a personal milestone, as he completed 1,000 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, reaching the mark in just his 15th innings. Earlier in the tournament, Kohli had also surpassed Sachin Tendulkar to become the fastest to 16,000 runs in men's List A cricket, achieving the feat in 330 innings compared to Tendulkar's 391.
