The Railways Ticket Collector Who Bowled Out Virat Kohli in Ranji Trophy
New Delhi, Jan 31: Until 10:55 AM on Friday, Himanshu Sangwan was just another domestic cricketer working hard for Railways in the Ranji Trophy.
But a minute later, he scripted a moment that would define his career, dismissing Virat Kohli in stunning fashion at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
Kohli, welcomed with loud cheers from over 10,000 fans, had just smashed a straight drive for four, putting pressure on Sangwan. However, on the very next ball, Sangwan pulled the length back, got the ball to nip in, and shattered Kohli’s off-stump, leaving the crowd in absolute silence.
Kohli walked back for 6 off 15 balls, and within minutes, the stadium started emptying—a scene rarely witnessed in domestic cricket.
Sangwan’s Reaction: The Biggest Wicket of His Life
After the match, the 29-year-old pacer from Haryana expressed his joy and disbelief.
"We stuck to the basics; there was no special plan for Kohli. This is the biggest wicket of my life. Virat is an inspiration for all of India," Sangwan said.
His name trended on social media instantly, with fake accounts being created in his name. One person sharing his name even had to disable comments due to a flood of messages from Kohli’s fans.
From Ticket Collector to Kohli’s Nightmare
Sangwan, who grew up in Rajasthan, moved to Delhi 15 years ago to pursue cricket. After failing to break into Haryana’s team, he joined Railways in 2018, making his first-class debut in 2019.
For a brief period, he worked as a senior ticket collector at Old Delhi Railway Station, juggling his cricketing dreams with a full-time job.
"Railways has given me everything. They supported me when I had nowhere to go. My first priority will always be Railways," he said.
Railways’ Simple Plan Against Delhi
Railways bowlers had a specific strategy for Delhi’s aggressive batters.
"We knew they would go after the bowlers. We just had to bowl in the right areas and let them make mistakes," Sangwan explained.
Though Delhi secured a 93-run lead, Sangwan remained optimistic about a Railways comeback in the final two days.
A Career-Defining Moment
Dismissing Virat Kohli in front of a packed Kotla stadium, witnessing fans leave immediately after his wicket, and seeing his name trend across the cricketing world—this was a dream moment for Sangwan.
"I will cherish this for the rest of my life. It’s a story I will tell for years," Sangwan said with a smile.