Kohli Set to Make Appearance in Vijay Hazare Trophy

On Tuesday, Virat Kohli informed the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) of his availability for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy. DDCA president Rohan Jaitley confirmed to Sportstar that Kohli has committed to playing for Delhi.

Although there had been previous speculation suggesting that the former India captain might skip the tournament, set to begin on December 24, Kohli reached out to state officials to confirm his intention to participate in the group stage. The prestigious domestic 50-over competition kicks off on December 24, with Delhi facing Andhra Pradesh in Alur on the opening day.

It’s yet to be seen if Kohli will participate in all seven group matches or if he will choose selectively, considering workload management. India is scheduled to play a three-match ODI series against New Zealand starting January 11. With Kohli expected to be part of the series, he will likely join the national camp a few days before. Thus, he may play in four to five games for Delhi, although no final decision has been made according to sources.

Delhi finds itself in a challenging group alongside Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Saurashtra, Odisha, Services, Railways, and Haryana. Kohli’s presence, having last played in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2010, will be a significant boost for the team.

Since January of this year, the BCCI has mandated that all players participate in domestic cricket to be eligible for international duty. Earlier in the year, both Kohli and Rohit Sharma played in a Ranji Trophy match for Delhi and Mumbai, respectively.

With aspirations to play until the 2027 ODI World Cup, Kohli and Sharma need to consistently participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. While Kohli’s participation is confirmed, Rohit is also anticipated to play for Mumbai, pending formal confirmation.

Published on December 2, 2025.