India’s top-tier domestic one-day tournament, the Vijay Hazare Trophy, will get underway on Wednesday, December 24, with the 2025–26 edition expected to draw attention across the cricketing landscape. The growing interest is largely driven by the participation of senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, whose appearances in domestic 50-over competitions have been uncommon for much of the past decade.

Virat Kohli was seen going through an intense training session on Sunday as he ramped up preparations for the upcoming tournament. Footage circulating online captured the senior batter spending long hours at the nets, concentrating on sustained batting and sharpening his match fitness. Kohli is expected to feature for Delhi under skipper Rishabh Pant, with the aim of staying sharp and fully prepared for India’s forthcoming ODI schedule.

Virat Kohli makes himself available for first two fixtures

Virat Kohli has made himself available for Delhi’s opening two games of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, giving the team a significant early lift. With fewer international commitments following his move away from Test and T20I cricket, the former India captain is set to use this domestic spell to build match sharpness and stay in rhythm. His return bolsters the top order and adds valuable experience to a squad that combines established names with promising youngsters.

A look at Kohli’s Vijay Hazare numbers

Virat Kohli’s impact in the Vijay Hazare Trophy stands out even with limited outings in the competition. Playing for Delhi, he has appeared in about 14 matches, amassing 819 runs at an outstanding average of above 68, alongside a strike rate of 106. The tally features four centuries and three half-centuries, showcasing how effectively his elite-level batting has translated to domestic List A cricket. Kohli last took part in the tournament during the 2018–19 season, making his return after several years a notable moment.

Reasons behind Virat Kohli’s return to domestic cricket

The timing has played a key role in the decision. India’s ODI commitments are limited at present, and with Kohli currently active in just one format. This return also fits with a recent Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) guideline that encourages centrally contracted players to take part in domestic tournaments when they are not engaged with the national side.

Kohli views the Vijay Hazare Trophy as a valuable platform for high-quality 50-over competition that closely reflects the intensity of international cricket. Choosing playing time over a break, the senior batter has once again backed his belief that staying match-sharp comes from time spent in the middle.

Delhi announce squad for Vijay Hazare season

The capital side has announced a robust squad, striking a balance between seasoned campaigners and young prospects.

Delhi squad: Rishabh Pant, Sarthak Ranjan, Priyansh Arya, Tejasvi Dahiya, Virat Kohli, Ishant Sharma, Harsh Tyagi, Simarjeet Singh, Prince Yadav, Navdeep Saini, Ayush Badoni, Arpit Rana, Yash Dhull, Nitish Rana, Hrithik Shokeen, Vaibhav Kandpal, Rohan Rana, Divij Mehra, Ayush Doseja, Anuj Rawat (standby).