From International Spotlight to Home Turf Glory — Delhi Braces for the Roar of a Charged-Up Kohli Once Again.
After a successful ODI campaign against the Proteas, former Indian captain Virat Kohli is likely to be back in domestic with Vijay Hazare trophy. This news is nothing less than a treat for his fans as they might get a chance to see their local star in action one more time.
As per the latest updates, Rishabh Pant is going to lead the side. The championship is starting from December 24th 2025 and the stalwart of modern cricket, Virat Kohli, is likely to appear in the couple of matches. Alongside him, renowned players like Navdeep Saini, Harshit Rana, and Ishant Sharma have also shown their interest for the squad.
However, the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has not included these players in their official 16-member squad due to the limited availability to these players. For the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand, players like Kohli, Pant, and Rana are in the squad, which will definitely not allow them to continue in the entire Vijay Hazare trophy.
On the other hand, Ayush Badoni is named the vice captain of Delhi team and he will presumably lead the side when Rishabh would not be available. The final squad for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand from January 11th 2026 is yet to be confirmed by the BCCI. Therefore, it is not sure for which fixtures in Vijay Hazare, Virat and Pant would be available.
The Regular Squad (Delhi Team) for Vijay Hazare Trophy
Ayush Badoni (vice captain), Arpit Rana, Yash Dhull, Sarthak Ranjan, Priyansh Arya, Tejasvi Singh Dahiya, Nitish Rana, Harsh Tyagi, Hritik Shokeen, Prince Yadav, Simranjeet Singh, Divij Mehra, Ayush Doseja, Vaibhav Kandpal, and Rohan Rana.
Wicket Keeper: Anuj Rawat
Additional Players: Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (Captain & WK), Harshit Rana, Navdeep Saini, and Ishant Sharma
Virat Kohli’s Comeback in Domestic Cricket
Before this, the jewel of the Indian team, Virat Kohli had appeared in Ranji Trophy after 12 years in January 2025. Fans came to watch him in huge numbers in Arun Jaitley Stadium when the 36-year old former skipper walked in his home ground against the Railways team. It happened due to an aggressive call of the national cricket board to make it mandatory for all players to participate in domestic games after a 3-1 loss in Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.
Also Read: Virat Kohli Vs. Rohit Sharma- Who Will Finish at the Top?
Kohli’s much anticipated comeback in domestic cricket created massive hype and excitement among his fans. But unfortunately his struggle in red-ball cricket continued in the Ranji Trophy as well. It was a disheartening moment for all his fans who packed the stadium just to see the vintage Kohli.
On the other hand, his recent form in ODIs has been top-notch and he is coming charged up from the series against South Africa. It will definitely excite his fans, especially the local fanbase of Delhi, when Virat Kohli will walk again in his turf at Arun Jaitley Stadium.
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