Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) president Rohan Jaitley has confirmed that Virat Kohli will play in the upcoming 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) season. Jaitley’s statement comes after reports suggested that Kohli had refused to participate in India’s main List-A competition. However, he did not mention how many matches or which games Kohli will play.

The 37-year-old is currently in Raipur, playing for India in the three-ODI series against South Africa. The VHT 2025-26 season will start on December 24. All of Delhi’s group stage matches will be played in Alur or Bengaluru.

“He has confirmed that he will play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. How many games he will play is not clear yet. Obviously, his presence will be a big boost for the Delhi dressing room,” Jaitley told news agency PTI.

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VIRAT KOHLI WILL PLAY 4 MATCHES IN THIS VIJAY HAZARE TROPHY

The Number of Matches Virat Kohli will play has now been shifted to Chinnaswamy stadium. (Vipul Kashyap/ANI).

#ViratKohli #VijayHazareTrophy pic.twitter.com/P9CpO5nqu8

— The Bharat Post (@TheBharatPost_) December 3, 2025

Kohli Set for Vijay Hazare Trophy Comeback After 15 Years

Virat Kohli last played in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in February 2010. He then played in the home World Cup the following year, which secured his place in the Indian team. He later became captain and one of the all-time greats.

Due to his workload, responsibilities, and all-format commitments, Kohli rarely played domestic cricket. He made a brief return to the Ranji Trophy last year, playing for Delhi against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

This return happened after the BCCI asked all contracted players to play domestic competitions whenever they had free time from international matches. Kohli retired from Test cricket soon after and had already ended his T20I career earlier in 2024, leaving ODIs as his only active international format.

Kohli appears to be preparing for the 2027 World Cup in Africa. The BCCI reportedly asked him and Rohit Sharma to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy to stay match-fit.

Kohli also sent a message with his match-winning century in the first ODI against South Africa. He added that he has never been too focused on over-preparation, making his comeback to domestic cricket after 15 years even more special.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) wants former India captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to play in the 2025–26 Vijay Hazare Trophy. This major domestic one-day tournament will be held from December 24 to January 18.

According to a report in the Times of India on Saturday (November 29), the board would have preferred if Rohit and Kohli had played some cricket in England during the summer. Now, they will be advised to take part in the Vijay Hazare Trophy next month.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Rohit has made himself available for Mumbai’s Vijay Hazare Trophy matches. However, there is still no clear update on Kohli’s participation. Kohli has not played in the VHT for Delhi for more than 10 years.

He did play one Ranji Trophy match for Delhi earlier this year under Ayush Badoni’s captaincy at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. So it will not be a surprise if he also decides to represent Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy this season.

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Meeting After SA Series

TOI has also reported that after the India–South Africa ODI series, which runs from November 30 to December 6, the BCCI is planning a meeting with the selectors and team management. The aim is to decide a clear plan for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s future in the ODI setup, keeping the 2027 ODI World Cup in mind.

The report adds that the team management is already working on finding backup players for both stars, in case a situation comes where one or both cannot play in the World Cup.

Need for Clear Roles

A BCCI source told the publication that it is important for players like Rohit and Kohli to know what is expected from them. The source said that they should not play with uncertainty about their roles.

The source also pointed out that although both scored runs in the third ODI in Australia, the series was already lost by then, and the bowlers had created the winning chance. They looked rusty in the first two matches, and the team cannot afford that in every series.

Ahead of India’s three-match ODI series against South Africa at home, the message is clear and loud from the BCCI as they want their two veteran one-format players, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, to feature in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26, beginning on December 24. This is the only white-ball competition for them between the home Proteas and the New Zealand series.

Rohit has informed the MCA that he would be available for the VHT games, but there is no clarity on Kohli. Both took part in India's previous ODI series against Australia down under, where the former smashed a fine century in Sydney, while Kohli got an unbeaten 74 after his two successive ducks.

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“The board and team management have conveyed to both of them that they will have to play domestic cricket if they want to play for India. As they both have retired from two formats, they have to play domestic cricket to be match-fit.” The reports of the Indian Express noted.

Rohit Sharma to be available for Mumbai’s VHT 2025-26 games; no clarity on Virat Kohli

Rohit has reportedly informed the MCA that he could even be available for a few games of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025/26, starting on November 26. The BCCI selection committee head, Ajit Agarkar, made it clear that the players would need to turn up for domestic cricket.

“We made it clear a year or a couple of years back that whenever players are available, they should be playing domestic cricket. That’s the only way you’ll keep yourself sharp and playing cricket, if you’ve got a long enough break. Whether that’s possible with the international cricket you’re playing or not, only time will tell, but if the guys are free, they should be playing domestic cricket.” Agarkar addressed.

“They are not on trial, they have achieved all they had to achieve, not just winning trophies but runs [as well], so it’s not that if both of them don’t get runs in one series that will be the reason they won’t be there, or if they get three hundreds, [that will be] the reason they play 2027,” Agarkar noted during an event.

With the 2027 ODI World Cup in sight, India’s seasoned duo Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are set to feature in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy, a move aimed at reaffirming their commitment to 50-over cricket and proving their readiness for the next ODI cycle.

According to reports, both stalwarts are expected to play at least three matches each for their respective state teams, Delhi (Kohli) and Mumbai (Rohit), before rejoining the national setup for the New Zealand ODI series in January 2026. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has instructed state associations to prepare for their inclusion, signalling the selectors’ intent to make domestic participation mandatory for all centrally contracted players.

India’s final ODI of 2025 will be played against South Africa on December 6 in Visakhapatnam. After that, there’s a five-week gap before the New Zealand series begins on January 11 in Vadodara, a window that conveniently aligns with the Vijay Hazare Trophy schedule. Mumbai will play six league games between December 24 and January 8, and selectors expect both senior players to utilize the tournament to stay in rhythm.

A BCCI source confirmed to PTI, “The Vijay Hazare Trophy starts on December 24. There will be six rounds for Mumbai (December 24, 26, 29, 31, Jan 3, 6, 8). Rohit will be expected to at least play three rounds before linking up with the squad. Ditto for Virat.”

Selectors push for domestic participation

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar has emphasized that all fit and available players must participate in domestic cricket to remain part of India’s long-term plans. With limited ODI fixtures in the upcoming months, the Vijay Hazare Trophy presents a crucial opportunity for Kohli and Rohit to maintain match fitness and form in the 50-over format.

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Ashwin backs move for veterans to play domestic cricket

Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, speaking on his YouTube channel, also stressed the importance of senior players participating in domestic competitions to stay sharp.

“If you need their services, you have to find a way. For example, the India ‘A’ series happened, so you need to ask them to play that because there is not much 50-over cricket. If not that, then they have to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy, because that will let us know the kind of form they are in,” said Ashwin.

As India begins long-term planning for the 2027 ODI World Cup, the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy could serve as a vital testing ground for the veteran pair, ensuring they remain aligned with the team’s evolving roadmap.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a set of fresh regulations for the upcoming 2025-26 domestic cricket season. As the Duleep Trophy starts the season on August 28, it also represents the beginning of the season's new operations with the governing body. The governing body anticipates improving competitive balance, uniformity with match formats, enhanced domestic standards, and the ability of players to adapt to changing demands created by modern-day cricket in the proposed reforms.

BCCI has prioritized improving the domestic structure's administrative efficiency while ensuring operations are in line with international regulations. These changes are likely to bring a professional face to domestic cricket in India, with batting and bowling challenges that are closer to what players may experience when representing their country. The 2025-26 season is when the rules will become visible through the Duleep Trophy, thereby ensuring the interest of players, selectors, and fans alike as it represents the first competition with the new operation modifications.

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Fielding captain to decide in case of short runs

As per the new BCCI regulation for domestic cricket, if a batter deliberately takes a short run, the fielding captain will now have the authority to decide which batter faces the next delivery. This marks a change from the earlier rule, where the batting side would automatically be penalized with five runs for such an act. However, if a batter simply aborts a run attempt midway without the intention of gaining an unfair advantage, no penalty or action will be enforced under the updated law.

“A deliberate short run is an attempt for batters to appear to run more than one run, while at least one batter deliberately does not make good their ground at one end. Batters may choose to abort a run, provided the umpire believes that there was no intention by the batter concerned to deceive the umpires or to score the run in which they didn’t make their ground,” the new rule said.

Single ball rule to apply after 34th over in Vijay Hazare Trophy

The International Cricket Council (ICC) recently announced its decision to phase out the use of two new balls in One Day Internationals (ODIs) to revive the art of reverse swing. Following this move, the BCCI has also implemented the same change in India’s premier domestic 50-over competition, the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Under the revised rule, teams will now continue with only a single ball once the innings crosses the 34th over, aiming to restore balance between bat and ball while encouraging bowlers to use reverse swing effectively.

“Each fielding team shall have two new balls for its innings to be used in alternate overs, i.e. one from each end for overs 1 to 34. At the end of over 34, the fielding team will choose one of the two balls from the innings to be used for all the remaining overs of the innings. The other ball will be added to the stock of replacement balls for the innings,” the law stated.

Substitutions allowed in case of serious injuries

During the fourth England vs India Test 2025 in Manchester, Rishabh Pant bravely batted with a broken toe, while England’s Chris Woakes came out with a dislocated shoulder. These events have sparked across the globe debates, with several former players as well as commentators requesting for an official injury replacement rule. However, some, including England captain Ben Stokes, opposed its introduction. Despite differing opinions, the BCCI has decided to implement an injury replacement law in India’s upcoming domestic multi-day tournaments, ensuring teams have fair options when players suffer serious on-field injuries.

“If a player sustains a serious injury during the course of the relevant match, a Serious Injury Replacement may be permitted in the following circumstances. The serious injury must have been sustained during play and within the playing area described in clause,” read the new playing conditions.

Rohit Sharma could soon be back in domestic cricket, with reports suggesting the India ODI captain may turn out for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scheduled to start on December 24. The development comes amid murmurs about his and Virat Kohli’s future in the 50-over format, with the 2027 ODI World Cup four years away.

The BCCI, keen to keep senior players match-ready, is reportedly considering asking both stalwarts to feature in the premier domestic List-A competition. The logic is simple: consistent game time at all levels will help assess whether the veterans still have the form and fitness to remain part of India’s long-term ODI plans.

For Rohit, this could be a significant return. The last time he played in the Vijay Hazare Trophy was in October 2018, when Mumbai won the tournament. He featured in two knockout matches that season, remaining unbeaten on 33 in the quarter-final against Bihar and scoring 17 in the semi-final against Hyderabad. He missed the final due to national duty, as India faced the West Indies in an ODI the very next day.

Kohli’s Vijay Hazare absence has been even longer; he last played for Delhi in February 2010, scoring 16 against Services. Should the selectors insist on their participation in 2025-26, it would mark a rare domestic one-day appearance for both.

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Domestic Return Hinges on Form and 2027 World Cup Plans

India’s schedule complicates matters. After ODIs against Australia in October and South Africa in late November-early December, the Vijay Hazare Trophy will slot in before the New Zealand ODI series starting January 11. Realistically, if Rohit and Kohli are selected for that series, their availability for most VHT games will be minimal.

At this stage, the prospect of seeing the two legends play in the competition depends on two factors: their ODI form in the upcoming six matches before the VHT, and the selectors’ vision for the 2027 World Cup. If they fire against Australia and South Africa, the domestic outing may become unnecessary. But if it runs dry, the VHT could become their proving ground.

For now, Mumbai fans can only hope the possibility turns into reality, a chance to see Rohit Sharma don the Mumbai colours in the Vijay Hazare Trophy once again.

A cloud of uncertainty piled over Virat Kohli's international career. After walking off from T20Is and Tests, the batting maestro is now only available for One Day International matches.

According to a previously published media report, it is said that the batter can feature in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT 2025) to prolong his cricket career. Though the official confirmation is yet to come about the matter. Over a decade ago, Virat Kohli played his last Vijay Hazare Trophy match, which was in February 2010. It was a North Zone match at Gurgaon between Delhi and Services.

Virat Kohli played an important part in that game for Delhi. Delhi with precision outplayed their opponent as they registered a massive total of 311/6 batting first. Virat, too, came to bat in the middle. The right-handed batsman scored a quickfire 16 off 8 balls as a number 5 batsman for Delhi. He even rounded his arms for an over to concede only 5 runs, and Delhi eventually won the contest. Virat Kohli had featured in five matches and scored 229 runs at an average of 45.80 with two half-centuries.

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Virat Kohli's ODI stats in brief 

The upcoming edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy is scheduled to start on December 24, 2025, and will be concluded with the final match on January 18, 2026. Virat Kohli last played his white ball game for Team India during the 2025 Champions Trophy, where the men in the Blue Brigade emerged as the champion. So far, in his overall ODI career, the Delhi-born claimed 14181 runs from 302 games at an average of 57.88 with 51 hundreds and 74 half-centuries.

It will be interesting to see whether Virat makes himself available for the VHT 2025-26, as the schedule of the tournament is overlapping with multiple international fixtures. 

Mumbai opener Prithvi Shaw is ready to turn a new page in his domestic career after the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) granted him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to represent another state as a professional. Shaw, who has been part of Mumbai cricket since his teenage years, made a formal request to the MCA for the NOC, which the association confirmed on Monday.

In a statement, MCA secretary Abhay Hadap praised Shaw’s contribution to Mumbai cricket and said the association respects his decision to move on. “Prithvi Shaw has been an exceptional talent and has contributed significantly to Mumbai cricket. We respect his decision and wish him the very best in his future endeavours,” Hadap said.

Shaw’s decision comes after a rough patch with the Mumbai team. Last season, he was dropped from a Ranji Trophy match because of fitness concerns — reports indicated that his body fat percentage was as high as 35 percent. Despite being given a two-week fitness plan by MCA trainers, Shaw struggled to meet the expected standards. This led to him missing out on the Vijay Hazare Trophy squad too.
  

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Shaw Eyes Revival with New State Team

In an email to the MCA, Shaw thanked the association for backing him throughout his career, calling it an honour to represent Mumbai. He said the chance to play for another state would help him grow as a player and allow him to focus on his game with a fresh mindset. He also reassured the MCA that this decision was made after a lot of thought and with full respect for the association.

While Shaw hasn’t played List A cricket in India since the 2022 Vijay Hazare Trophy, he did have a good stint in England’s One Day Cup with Northamptonshire, scoring 97 and 72 in two of his last five innings. Despite setbacks, he remains determined to prove himself.Last year, Mumbai captain Shreyas Iyer commented on Shaw’s situation, saying, “We can’t babysit anyone. He has to figure things out for himself.” With a new state team waiting, Shaw will hope this fresh start brings him back into top form.

Karnataka vs Vidarbha: Key Details for the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 Final

The Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 has reached its finishing stage after an exciting series of matches. The much anticipated final will see Karnataka face Vidarbha in a battle for the title. Here's everything you need to know about the big match, including the schedule, venue, and live streaming details.

In their semi-final clash, Vidarbha delivered a dominant performance against Maharashtra. Karun Nair was the star of the match, smashing an incredible 88 runs off just 44 balls, featuring 9 fours and 5 sixes. His explosive innings helped Vidarbha post a massive total of 380 runs. Maharashtra, in response, managed only 311 runs, falling short of the target. Nair's outstanding form in the tournament has been a game-changer for Vidarbha, with 752 runs to his name so far, making him one of the key reasons for the team’s success.

Karnataka, on the other hand, secured their spot in the final with an impressive victory over Haryana. This marks Karnataka’s fifth appearance in a Vijay Hazare Trophy final, showcasing their consistent performance throughout the tournament.  

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VHT Final Match Details:

When and Where to Watch KAR vs VID:

Reliance Stadium Pitch Report:

Official Umpires for Match:

KAR vs VID Squads:

The Indian cricket team is a little slow in telling everyone who's going to play in the ICC Champions Trophy. They've asked for more time to decide because they want to wait until after the Vijay Hazare Trophy final is over. Recently, half of the teams out of the 12 that are joining the tournament have shared their member lists, but India and Pakistan haven't talked about it. Teams had until January 12 to say who's going to play, but it looks like India could tell who is playing a bit after that, if something surprising occurs.

The BCCI selection committee is scheduled to meet on January 19, the day following the Vijay Hazare Trophy final, to discuss the squad. It is expected that the squad will be announced on the same day. The selectors have chosen to wait until the tournament concludes to select the strongest possible 15-member squad for the Champions Trophy.

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Team India's likely squad for the Champions Trophy 2025 :

Rohit Sharma (C)
Virat Kohli
Shubman Gill
Yashshvi Jaiswal
Shreyas Iyer
KL Rahul
Rishabh Pant (WK)
Hardik Pandya (WK)
Ravindra Jadeja
Axar Patel
Kuldeep Yadav
Jasprit Bumrah (VC)
Mohammad Siraj
Mohammad Shami
Arshdeep… pic.twitter.com/hOMoF9emWC

— Akshay Tadvi 🇮🇳 (@AkshayTadvi28) January 7, 2025

India Delays Squad Announcement to Ensure the Best Selection

Because Team India didn't do well in the ODI World Cup, they really want to use their top players for the next ICC Champions Trophy. The people choosing the team at BCCI have pushed back when they'll say who's on the team until after the Vijay Hazare Trophy is over.

Rohit Sharma, India’s current captain, is expected to lead the team and could have the opportunity to win his final ICC trophy for India. In 2023, India reached the World Cup final but was defeated by Australia in Ahmedabad. Despite some inconsistent performances, both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are likely to be included in the squad for the Champions Trophy. However, there are concerns over the fitness of two key bowlers, Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah, who suffered a back injury during the 5th Test against Australia in Sydney, and Kuldeep, who is dealing with a groin issue, may not be fully fit in time for the tournament, leaving their availability uncertain.