Who is Himanshu Sangwan? Railways' pacer who castled Kohli in Ranji match
In a high-stake clash, he struck again-his moment of reckoning arriving as he sent the legendary Virat Kohli back to the pavilion
 "Who is Himanshu Sangwan? Railways' pacer who castled Kohli in Ranji match")
Railways pacer Himanshu Sangwan emerged as the centre of attention in Indian cricket circles after claiming what he described as the "most important wicket of his life" by dismissing Virat Kohli during a Ranji Trophy match against Delhi on Friday.
A career-defining moment
Sangwan, who once played under-19 cricket for Delhi alongside players like Rishabh Pant before his move to Railways, achieved the breakthrough in the first session on day two by uprooting the superstar’s off-stump. The moment captured his imagination and that of countless fans, as he celebrated the prized wicket with unrestrained enthusiasm, seemingly unmindful of the social media frenzy that soon followed.
On the brink of a new chapter
At 29 years of age, the ticket collector for Northern Railways had long dreamt of a life-changing breakthrough. Reflecting on the event, he remarked, "It is the most important wicket of my life. It goes without saying. Virat Kohli is an inspiration to the whole country." This was his 24th first-class game since making his debut for Railways back in 2019, a milestone moment that held the promise of new opportunities.
An electric atmosphere
The match was made all the more memorable by the unusually large turnout of fans, a testament to Kohli’s magnetic pull. Sangwan noted, "First time in life I saw so many people turning up for a Ranji Trophy game. It was special for all of us." The extra dose of motivation from the packed stadium contributed to the charged atmosphere that fueled his performance.
A duel of nerve and strategy
During the exchange, Kohli initially went on the offensive, standing well outside his crease to disdainfully dispatch a ball towards the straight boundary. However, it was the very next delivery—a good-length ball that saw Kohli miss an expansive drive—which resulted in his off-stump being shattered. The incident added another twist to the narrative, particularly given Kohli’s struggles with outside off-stump deliveries on his recent tour of Australia. Check latest news on ICC Champions Trophy 2025 here
Tactical Insight
When asked about the game plan, Sangwan explained, "We did not plan for one particular batter. Majority of the Delhi batters like to attack so our plan was stick to channel bowling and draw the outside edge." The strategy, aimed at curbing the attacking intent of the Delhi batsmen, had its moment of success against the renowned former captain.
Acknowledging New Beginnings
Sangwan also expressed gratitude towards Railways for the opportunity to showcase his talent, particularly after not making the senior team in Delhi. This sentiment encapsulated not only his personal journey but also the broader narrative of resilience and seizing the moment in Indian cricket. Check Champions Trophy 2025 points table here
| Himashu Sangwan Bowling stats in domestic cricket | |||||||||||||
| Format | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
| FC | 23 | 40 | 3038 | 1534 | 77 | 6/33 | 7/81 | 19.92 | 3.02 | 39.4 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| List A | 17 | 17 | 827 | 729 | 21 | 4/44 | 4/44 | 34.71 | 5.28 | 39.3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| T20s | 7 | 7 | 140 | 225 | 5 | 2/31 | 2/31 | 45 | 9.64 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 |