The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has enforced a clear mandate, driven by head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar, requiring all international players to participate in domestic competitions when not on national duty. This directive, established to ensure consistent game time and preparedness, has put pressure on senior players, particularly those who have retired from Test cricket, to utilize the country’s premier 50-over tournament. The upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT), scheduled from December 24 to January 18, has thus become crucial game time for India’s ODI stars, especially given the upcoming gap in the international 50-over calendar.
Is Virat Kohli playing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy? Details inside
As per Cricbuzz report, Virat Kohli has put all rumors and speculation to rest by confirming his availability to the Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) for the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26 season. This development was officially confirmed by DDCA president Rohan Jaitley, marking a massive boost for Delhi cricket and signaling Kohli’s compliance with the new BCCI policy. Kohli’s decision is particularly noteworthy given his recent comments in Ranchi, where his statements about focusing primarily on the mental aspect of the game were “largely interpreted as a push-back against the BCCI line.” His commitment to play reverses what some had initially viewed as a stance at odds with the management’s mandate.
The report further stated that Kohli is expected to feature in a limited number of games, with the likelihood of him playing against Andhra Pradesh (December 24) and Gujarat (December 26) in Bengaluru. His return to the VHT ends a significant absence; he last played in the tournament in the 2009/10 edition, with his final game taking place on February 18, 2010. Over his career in the tournament, Kohli has amassed impressive numbers, scoring 819 runs in 14 VHT games at an exceptional average of 68.25 and a strike rate of 106.08, including four centuries. His presence will undoubtedly generate massive fan interest and serve as critical preparation for the ODI series against New Zealand scheduled in January.
Rohit Sharma in Vijay Hazare Trophy? Here’s the full story
Similar to Kohli, opener Rohit Sharma has also reportedly communicated his intention to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) that he will play for the team in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The joint participation of both seasoned veterans underscores the seriousness of the BCCI’s directive, spearheaded by head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar. They have explicitly insisted that international players, especially those who have retired from Test cricket, must make themselves available for the domestic 50-over competition to maintain form.13
The current VHT serves a vital purpose for both players, given that the ODI World Cup is less than two years away and the national team’s ODI schedule after the upcoming series against New Zealand is sparse for several months. By playing for their respective state teams, Kohli and Rohit could address the rumors that had painted them as being uninterested in the competition. The availability of these two stars, who have been among India’s best performers in the 50-over format this year, is deemed essential for securing continuous game time and remaining sharp for international assignments, adhering to the management’s non-negotiable requirement for national selection.
