Virat Kohli set to play for Delhi in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26

Virat Kohli set to play for Delhi in VHT 2025-26, marking a big return to India’s premier domestic one-day competition.

The upcoming edition of India’s premier 50-over tournament, the Vijay Hazare Trophy, is likely to be a star-studded affair. One of the world’s biggest cricketers, Virat Kohli, is set to feature in the tournament – a factor that elevates the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26 (VHT) to another level.

Kohli playing domestic cricket in India is a rarity, which is why his participation in the VHT  will be treated as an event in itself. The last time Kohli featured in a domestic 50-over tournament was back in 2013, where he led Delhi in the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy.

So, if he does play in the 2025-26 edition of VHT, it will be Kohli’s first appearance in a domestic List-A game in more than 12 years. What does it mean for Virat Kohli himself and his team?

Multiple inferences can be drawn from Virat Kohli’s decision to return to domestic cricket. Delhi will play at least seven matches in the group stage, and it remains to be seen how many of those games the leading century-maker in the ODI format will take part in.

All of Delhi’s group-stage games will be held in Alur and Bengaluru.

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VHT will help Kohli to be match fit, and provide him with substantial game time
While Kohli is still, without a doubt, one of the fittest cricketers going around, even at the fag end of his career, the 38-year-old doesn’t play cricket across the year as he did once upon a time. Having retired from Tests and T20Is, the ODI format is the only format in which he represents India.

ODIs, as we all know, are the least preferred format nowadays when compared to Tests and T20Is. Hence, the number of ODIs played these days is lesser, and it gains significance only when an ICC tournament is around the corner. The next big tournament in this format is the ICC Cricket World Cup, and it is set to be held at the end of 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Virat Kohli is eyeing his fifth World Cup, and this event is almost two years away. India are set to play 30-40 ODI games till then, and those are not many for a player who just plays a single format; although he continues to play in the IPL. Hence, it is imperative that Kohli gets enough game time to be match fit and VHT is a perfect forum for that.

Kohli continues to be amongst the runs
Yes, Virat Kohli plays only ODI cricket for India, but he remains one of the best in the format. In the last two games for India in ODIs, he has scored two successive centuries and is still showing that he is a run machine in the format.

To continue to be the best at the highest level en route to the World Cup, the veteran should keep churning out runs. This is only possible when he consistently bats at a competitive level. Yes, Kohli plays the IPL, but VHT is a tournament which will give him a feel of the 50-over format.

Read More: IND vs SA 2025-26, 1st ODI: King Kohli’s golden run continues in Ranchi; India go 1-0 up

Great opportunity for domestic players to gain knowledge from playing with/against Kohli
Virat Kohli is one of the most influential figures in Indian cricket, a player revered by fans and young emerging cricketers. For many emerging talents, he has been the benchmark – someone they grew up watching and learning from. Naturally, the opportunity to play alongside or even against him in a tournament like the VHT is nothing short of a dream come true for most of the domestic players.

Aside from being a modern-day batting great, Kohli is arguably one of India’s finest Test captains. So his presence in the Delhi squad offers invaluable learning opportunities to everyone involved. Youngsters can absorb a wealth of knowledge from him, be it the preparation, mindset, fitness or from the leadership point of view. In short, Kohli’s presence will uplift the dressing room and their campaign as a whole, and no doubt, it will motivate the next generation.

VHT 2025-26 starts from December 24, 2025 and the final is scheduled to be held on January 18, 2026. Delhi will kickstart their campaign on December 24 against Andhra Pradesh in Alur.

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