Virat Kohli Set to Return for 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy
Kohli's Participation in the Upcoming Tournament
The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has announced that Virat Kohli will participate in the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT), according to reports from ESPNcricinfo. This announcement is expected to draw significant interest towards India's premier domestic 50-over tournament, which kicks off on December 24. Delhi will compete in Elite Group 'D' and will face Andhra in their opening match.
Kohli's Current Status
After retiring from T20 Internationals post the 2024 T20 World Cup and stepping back from Test cricket before the England tour, Kohli is now focused solely on One Day Internationals (ODIs). He is actively playing for India in the ongoing series against South Africa, where he has impressively scored centuries in consecutive matches.
Kohli's History in the Vijay Hazare Trophy
Kohli's last appearance in the VHT was during the 2009-10 season, where he participated in five matches, amassing 229 runs at an average of 45.80, including two half-centuries. His final match in that season saw him score 16 runs off eight balls against Services.
In the 2008-09 season, Kohli had an outstanding performance, leading the tournament with 534 runs in seven matches at an impressive average of 89.00, which included four centuries. Overall, he has scored 763 runs in 12 VHT matches, featuring four hundreds and two fifties.
Memorable Performance in 2009
One of Kohli's standout moments came in the 2009 VHT when he scored a blistering 124 runs off just 82 balls against Haryana in Dharamsala. Coming in after a solid opening partnership, he continued the aggressive play, hitting nine fours and seven sixes, which contributed to Delhi's commanding 139-run victory.
Last 50-Over Match for Delhi
Kohli's last 50-over match for Delhi was during the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy in late 2013, where he scored a total of 91 runs across three innings, including one fifty. In the final match, India Blue triumphed over Delhi, thanks to Manish Pandey's 62 runs and a four-wicket haul by Bhuvneshwar Kumar.