The fans of cricket all over India were in sheer jubilation when Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returned to domestic cricket in a glorious manner as they blasted centuries as the whole country went ballistic. Their exploits in the Vijay Hazare Trophy made regular games to become legendary ones and these legends continue to enjoy unparalleled following.
The incendiary Rohit Sharma, the explosive opener, ignited Jaipur with a 62 ball century on a rampage against Kerala on behalf of Mumbai, his quickest in List A cricket. The Hitman hit 155 off only 94 balls and his hit and sixes brought the cheering stadium into delirium. In a seven-year absence of the domestic one-dayer fans crowded the ground mobbing, chaotic scenes ensued with one celebrating the dominance of their hero. It was not a ton, but the word of eternal power-hitting.
Virat Kohli was not left behind and took Delhi back against Andhra 15 years later. In a performance that mixed grit and flair, he anchored a nerve-chilling run of 299, and in the presence of a century of 58 List A runs, was reminiscent of his greatest. Google searches of Kohli went past a million, social media was awash with eulogies and even competitors recognized the master was back. His consistency level is now unbreakable bringing inspiration to the next generation.
The frenzy was electric. Ranchi was filled with lunacy on behalf of the two, training sessions attracted people as much as global matches, and fan videos became the viral content. Rohit prevented a young fanatic supporter in caressing his feet in a touching scene, and Virat scored a record with his ton in the Tendulkar era. They all were swept into record books, one matchings the other, Rohit catching up with Warner, Kohli catching up with icons, generations joined together in one marvelous week.
This recovery was more than just a return of the run; it was the spark of nostalgia over the Indian golden period of the ODI. During crammed stands and online storms, fans re-experienced victories of the world cup and inter-country conflicts. The legends did not only score, they brought together a billion hearts, proving that age will not put out the fire. Such hype is not a part of domestic cricket but Rohit and Virat made it a festival of frenzy.
