Ranji Trophy return of Virat Kohli: The cricketer personally met the DDCA chef and requested a canteen recipe

The canteen recipe is linked to his childhood; the cricketer requested chilli paneer from the canteen, revealing the DDCA chef.

On Day 1 of Virat Kohli’s Ranji Trophy return, the food he ordered from the DDCA made news. The cricketer, who made his iconic return to domestic cricket after 12 years, created an electrifying atmosphere at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Thousands of fans turned up to witness the cricketing icon in action. Fans even gathered outside the stadium from the previous night, and every glimpse of Kohli was met with deafening cheers.

Journalist Rohit Juglan shares an interesting tidbit about Kohli’s lunch.

During the game, journalist Rohit Juglan shared that the DDCA had ordered chilli paneer from the local DDCA canteen. Juglan’s post on X read, “In lunchtime, Virat Kohli will have chilli paneer ordered from the local DDCA canteen.”

Chef Sanjay Jha revealed this about King Kohli.

Speaking with Revsportz for an interview, Sanjay Jha, who cooked food for Kohli and is a regular at DDCA canteen, revealed that the India batting star denied having lunch from outside. Jha indicated that Kohli said, “Bahar se nahi, yahi canteen se hi khaaunga (No, not from outside. I’ll have lunch from the canteen).” In another interview with Indian Express, Jha lauded Kohli for remembering him and treating him with respect despite having gained international stardom over the years. He said, “He personally met me yesterday after the training session and requested me for chilli paneer. He called me by name ‘Sanjay ji.’ Itna badaa aadmi ban gayaa hai lekin mera naam yaad hai usko (He has become so big now. He still remembers my name.)”

A former India cricketer present at the Ranji Trophy stadium, speaking about the staggering turnout of fans at the venue, told PTI, “I have never seen something like this in Ranji Trophy ever. Even in my playing days, there was hardly anyone who made the effort to watch domestic cricket. It is just because of one man.”