Himanshu Sangwan: The Bowler Who Dismissed Virat Kohli in His Final First-Class Match

A Historic Moment in Cricket

Himanshu Sangwan's name will forever be linked to Virat Kohli, as he became the last bowler to dismiss the cricketing legend in First-Class cricket following Kohli's retirement announcement. This memorable moment occurred during a Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Railways in January, marking Kohli's first domestic appearance since November 2012, which drew a crowd of over 12,000 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

On the second day of the match, Sangwan bowled Kohli out, sending his stumps flying. This moment not only marked the end of Kohli's First-Class career but also secured Sangwan's place in cricket history, as his wicket is now a trivia question.

A visiting lecturer posed the question, 'Who was the bowler that dismissed Virat Kohli in his last Ranji match?' to a student preparing for the UPSC exams at the Imperial Library in Nayagaon, near Chandigarh.

Sangwan expressed his amusement at becoming a quiz question, sharing with a local media outlet, 'It's amusing to think I've already become part of trivia.' He recounted how a friend who runs a library mentioned this incident after a student showed interest in current affairs, calling it a proud moment for him.

Reflecting on Kohli's retirement, Sangwan described his encounter with the cricket star as a cherished memory. He expressed disappointment over Kohli's departure from the game, likening it to the sentiments felt when Sachin Tendulkar retired. 'When Tendulkar retired, we all wondered about the future of cricket. Kohli's retirement feels the same,' he stated.

Sangwan recalled asking Kohli for a selfie, to which Kohli graciously agreed, suggesting they take it after the match. He was particularly touched when Kohli inquired if he was related to Pradeep Sangwan, noting, 'He said my body language resembled his.' For Sangwan, standing next to Kohli was a surreal experience, and he will treasure this memory for a lifetime.