Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant omitted? Delhi announce squad for Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025/26

Just after the end of the three-match ODI series at home against South Africa, it was announced that Virat Kohli would be part of a couple of games for Delhi in the 2025/26 season of the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT). He was expected to be joined by the wicket-keeper, Rishabh Pant, in the squad.

This happens given the BCCI’s rule of players turning up in the domestic game if they are not part of the national commitment. It will be a return to List-A cricket for Kohli after a long time, as he appeared for the side in the first-class game against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium at the start of the year.

That turned out to be his final game with the red ball as he announced his retirement from the longest format during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Kohli, however, keeps an eye on being part of the upcoming ODI World Cup 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia

Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli named in first two Delhi games in VHT 2025/26

Pant has been named the captain of the side with Ishant Sharma and Navdeep Saini also making them available for the first two games. Virat Kohli has also been part of the 20-man squad which will play its first two games against Andhra and Gujarat. Harshit Rana, if available, will join the squad as Ayush Badoni has been named the vice-captain.

Pant will also get the experience of Nitish Rana in the middle order and the freshness of young Priyansh Arya at the opening spot of the team. Simarjeet Singh will be their top-class bowler of the side, with Hrithik Shokeen taking care of the spin department.

Delhi’s squad for the first two VHT 2025/26 games

Rishabh Pant (capt), Ayush Badoni (vice-capt), Virat Kohli, Arpit Rana, Yash Dhull, Sarthak Ranjan, Priyansh Arya, Tejasvi Singh (wk), Nitish Rana, Hrithik Shokeen, Harsh Tyagi, Simarjeet Singh, Prince Yadav, Divij Mehra, Ayush Doseja, Vaibhav Kandpal, Rohan Rana, Ishant Sharma, Navdeep Saini.
Anuj Rawat (standby wicketkeeper)