NEW DELHI: Railways pacer Himanshu Sangwan became an overnight sensation after dismissing superstar Virat Kohli in a Ranji Trophy match against Delhi at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Friday. In the first session on Day 2, Sangwan bowled a brilliant delivery that shattered Kohli’s off-stump, sending the cricketing world into a frenzy.
Kohli, who was making his return to domestic cricket after 12 years, had faced 15 balls and scored 6 runs. The delivery from Sangwan was a perfect in-swinger that breached the gap between bat and pad, resulting in the stumps being uprooted.
After the game, the fast bowler displayed his admiration by approaching Kohli to take his autograph on a cricket ball. Sangwan later posted this moment through a video on his Instagram handle.
This was not the first time Sangwan has showcased his talent. In a 2020 Ranji Trophy match, he dismissed Ajinkya Rahane. His list of high-profile wickets also includes Rinku Singh, Prithvi Shaw, Krunal Pandya, Rajat Patidar, and Devdutt Padikkal.
Beyond his on-field achievements, Sangwan balances his cricketing career with his job as a ticket collector at New Delhi Railway Station. He has refined his skills under the mentorship of Australian legend Glenn McGrath at the MRF Pace Academy.
“I have never witnessed such a crowd at a Ranji Trophy match, and it was all because of Virat Kohli. People came in huge numbers – it felt nothing short of an international match. The buzz was incredible. Usually, fans come to cheer for players like Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli. But this match was just about Virat. All I could hear for three days was ‘Virat! Virat! Kohli! Kohli!’,” Sangwan told TimesofIndia.com in an interview.
“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 when a batter hits him for a four or a six. He played a superb straight drive. As a bowler, I was disappointed. Next delivery, I had put extra effort and it paid off,” he said.
