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Railways pacer Himanshu Sangwan lived every cricketer’s dream—not only did he dismiss Virat Kohli, but he also got the Indian legend’s autograph on the match ball after their Ranji Trophy 2024-25 clash in Delhi.
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Sangwan’s Dream Delivery Sends Kohli Packing
The moment of glory for Sangwan came when he bowled a perfect length delivery that cut back in, beating Kohli’s inside edge and crashing into the off stump. The Delhi stalwart was left stunned, managing only 6 runs off 15 balls in his first Ranji Trophy game in 13 years.
Kohli had earlier dispatched a similar delivery for a boundary, but this time, Sangwan had the final say. The scalp added another big name to his growing list of high-profile wickets, which already includes Ajinkya Rahane, Rinku Singh, Prithvi Shaw, Krunal Pandya, Rajat Patidar, and Devdutt Padikkal.
A Special Souvenir From a Special Wicket
After the match, Sangwan approached Kohli for an autograph on the match ball, and the former India captain obliged. Overwhelmed with emotion, Sangwan shared a video of the moment on Instagram, captioning it:
“God’s plan, really grateful.”
For the 27-year-old, who works as a ticket collector at New Delhi Railway Station, it was a moment of pure cricketing magic. Having trained at the MRF Pace Academy under Glenn McGrath, Sangwan has steadily improved his craft, and dismissing one of the greatest batters in the game was a testament to his skill and perseverance.
“I Have Never Seen Such a Crowd for a Ranji Match”
Speaking to Times of India, Sangwan described the electric atmosphere at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, where thousands of fans had turned up solely for Virat Kohli.
“I have never witnessed such a crowd at a Ranji Trophy match, and it was all because of Virat Kohli. It felt nothing short of an international match. All I could hear for three days was ‘Virat! Virat! Kohli! Kohli!’”
He also reflected on the thrill of dismissing Kohli, calling it an indescribable feeling.
“Getting Virat Kohli’s wicket was a huge moment for me. I can talk about it, but the feeling is beyond words—I simply can’t express it. My aggression was natural. A bowler, especially a fast bowler, never likes getting hit for a four. He played a superb straight drive off me, so on the next delivery, I put in extra effort—and it paid off.”
A Moment to Remember
While Delhi went on to dominate the match and secure a victory, the biggest takeaway for Sangwan was undoubtedly the wicket of Virat Kohli—a moment he will cherish forever.
With this breakthrough performance, Sangwan has put his name on the map, and if he continues his impressive form, more big moments could be on the horizon for the Railways pacer.
