The Delhi and District Cricket Association has confirmed that Virat Kohli will play in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy. This marks a return to domestic 50-over cricket for the former India captain. Kohli last participated in the tournament in 2010, and his comeback after a 15-year gap has quickly become one of the top stories for the new season.
Virat Kohli Returns to Vijay Hazare Trophy
DDCA President Rohan Jaitley and Secretary Ashok Sharma mentioned that Kohli has already let the association know about his availability for the 2025-26 campaign. The tournament starts on December 24, with Delhi facing Andhra Pradesh in their opening match. Kohli will play for his home team, adding star power to the squad.
His decision comes as the BCCI has reminded centrally contracted players of their duty to participate in domestic cricket whenever they are healthy and not on national duty. With Kohli now focusing only on the ODI format after stepping back from Tests and T20Is, the Vijay Hazare Trophy becomes crucial for his match fitness before India’s ODI series against New Zealand in January 2026. While he has confirmed his participation, it is still unclear if he will play the entire tournament or just a few games before rejoining the national team.
Receive Player of Match award earlier
Kohli’s return to domestic cricket also connects with his honest reflections after scoring his 52nd ODI hundred, a smooth 135 off 120 balls against South Africa. This performance earned him the Player of the Match award and gave fans a glimpse of the classic Virat Kohli. He spoke candidly about his preparation, mindset, and future, emphasizing why he feels comfortable focusing on just one format.
Regarding preparation, he stated he has always trusted his mental clarity more than intense training routines. “I’ve never been a big believer in a lot of preparation. All my cricket has been mental. As long as I feel mentally prepared, I can play the game. I work physically very hard every day of my life.”
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