Virat Kohli is set to make his Vijay Hazare Trophy return after a decade as he features for Delhi in the 2025–26 season. The senior batter has been named in Delhi’s squad for their opening two matches, with the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) confirming Rishabh Pant as captain for the tournament.
Delhi will kick off their Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign against Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday, December 24, with the match scheduled to be played at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru.
Kohli’s return to domestic cricket follows the BCCI’s directive that centrally contracted players must participate in domestic tournaments when not on international duty. With his Test and T20I careers behind him, the Vijay Hazare Trophy offers Kohli valuable match practice ahead of India’s ODI series against New Zealand early next year.
The 36-year-old enters the tournament in strong form, having enjoyed a productive 2025 in ODIs. Kohli finished the year as India’s leading ODI run-scorer, amassing 651 runs from 13 matches at a strike rate close to 96, including impactful performances against Australia and South Africa.
Delhi vs Andhra Pradesh: Match details
The Delhi vs Andhra Pradesh Vijay Hazare Trophy match will be played on December 24, with the action set to begin at 9:00 AM IST. The venue for the fixture is the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Virat Kohli’s Vijay Hazare Trophy record
Kohli last featured in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2010, representing Delhi between 2008 and 2010. In 13 matches, he scored 819 runs, which included four centuries and three half-centuries. His most recent appearance came against Services in 2010, where he scored a quick 16 off eight balls while leading Delhi.
Where to watch Delhi vs Andhra Pradesh live
Star Sports holds the broadcast rights for the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26 in India, though it is yet to be confirmed whether the Delhi vs Andhra Pradesh match will be telecast live on television. Fans can follow the match via live streaming on the JioStar app and website.
Delhi squad for Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26
Delhi’s squad includes Rishabh Pant (c), Virat Kohli, Priyansh Arya, Tejasvi Dahiya (wk), Ishant Sharma, Navdeep Saini, Ayush Badoni (vc), Nitish Rana, Yash Dhull, Hrithik Shokeen, Harsh Tyagi, Simarjeet Singh, among others, with Anuj Rawat named as a stand-by.
Kohli’s presence adds significant star power to the tournament and will be closely watched as he makes his long-awaited return to India’s premier domestic one-day competition.
