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Vijay Hazare Trophy LIVE Updates: Retired from Test cricket and from T20I cricket almost in total lockstep, India’s two great cricket heroes of this generation will always be tied to one another. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma form the old guard, as it were, but that doesn’t mean they don’t continue to dominate the 50 over format – historically their strongest suit in international cricket.
But if they want to remain at the top of their games in ODI cricket, as they have shown in recent series against Australia and South Africa, the two stars realise they must put in the hard yards with minimal top-level cricket on the cards otherwise. What this means is that they will mark their return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s domestic 50-over tournament, after long spells away. Rohit Sharma last played for Mumbai in this tournament in 2018, but Kohli hasn’t donned the Delhi kit since 2010, at 22 years old and not yet a World Cup winner.
Delhi and Mumbai are two teams who will have intentions of going deep into the tournament, and their seasons will be kickstarted by these two talismanic figures at the helm, with a lot more quality surrounding them to boot. Delhi take on Andhra at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence ground in Bengaluru, relocated from the Chinnaswamy Stadium which has acted as Kohli’s second home over all these years. Mumbai face Sikkim at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
Both players have shown this remains their strongest format and that they haven’t yet lost a step in the journey towards the 2027 ODI World Cup. Joining their domestic teammates this week, it becomes about getting as much cricket as they can on the way, but also about small steps as they prepare for next month’s set of ODIs against the visiting New Zealand team.
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But if they want to remain at the top of their games in ODI cricket, as they have shown in recent series against Australia and South Africa, the two stars realise they must put in the hard yards with minimal top-level cricket on the cards otherwise. What this means is that they will mark their return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s domestic 50-over tournament, after long spells away. Rohit Sharma last played for Mumbai in this tournament in 2018, but Kohli hasn’t donned the Delhi kit since 2010, at 22 years old and not yet a World Cup winner.
Delhi and Mumbai are two teams who will have intentions of going deep into the tournament, and their seasons will be kickstarted by these two talismanic figures at the helm, with a lot more quality surrounding them to boot. Delhi take on Andhra at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence ground in Bengaluru, relocated from the Chinnaswamy Stadium which has acted as Kohli’s second home over all these years. Mumbai face Sikkim at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
Both players have shown this remains their strongest format and that they haven’t yet lost a step in the journey towards the 2027 ODI World Cup. Joining their domestic teammates this week, it becomes about getting as much cricket as they can on the way, but also about small steps as they prepare for next month’s set of ODIs against the visiting New Zealand team.
But if they want to remain at the top of their games in ODI cricket, as they have shown in recent series against Australia and South Africa, the two stars realise they must put in the hard yards with minimal top-level cricket on the cards otherwise. What this means is that they will mark their return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s domestic 50-over tournament, after long spells away. Rohit Sharma last played for Mumbai in this tournament in 2018, but Kohli hasn’t donned the Delhi kit since 2010, at 22 years old and not yet a World Cup winner.
Delhi and Mumbai are two teams who will have intentions of going deep into the tournament, and their seasons will be kickstarted by these two talismanic figures at the helm, with a lot more quality surrounding them to boot. Delhi take on Andhra at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence ground in Bengaluru, relocated from the Chinnaswamy Stadium which has acted as Kohli’s second home over all these years. Mumbai face Sikkim at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
Both players have shown this remains their strongest format and that they haven’t yet lost a step in the journey towards the 2027 ODI World Cup. Joining their domestic teammates this week, it becomes about getting as much cricket as they can on the way, but also about small steps as they prepare for next month’s set of ODIs against the visiting New Zealand team.
Vijay Hazare Trophy LIVE Updates: The Delhi vs Andhra match was originally set to take place at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, a place Kohli has made his second home. However, fears from the stampede following last year’s IPL has meant that for safety and precautionary purposes, the match has been moved to the outskirts of the city, where the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence will host this contest instead.
Vijay Hazare Trophy LIVE Updates: Alongside Kohli will be another star teammate, as Rishabh Pant tries to make his claim for more regular Indian action with participation in domestic white ball games. With no Test matches until August, Pant has time to spare to commit himself to the VHT for its entirety – a key moment at this stage of his career, as he tries to regain favour in the white ball formats for India. He will lead Delhi’s team, and have intentions of recreating what Ishan Kishan did as skipper Jharkhand in the SMAT to earn his spot at the T20 World Cup.
Vijay Hazare Trophy LIVE Updates: Rohit has suited up for the Mumbai team more recently, last in 2018, and will be back again. However, there are some players that Mumbai won’t have just yet under the captaincy of Shardul Thakur. Shreyas Iyer remains injured, Yashasvi Jaiswal is not available, Ajinkya Rahane isn’t in the squad, and Ayush Mhatre only recently finished the U-19 Asia Cup. There is naturally plenty of talent in this unit, but it isn’t Mumbai at their strongest – Rohit Sharma will have a lot of responsibility on his shoulders, as has always been the case.
Vijay Hazare Trophy LIVE Updates: Kohli has been such a cornerstone of India’s efforts in the 50-over format over the course of his career that he hasn’t had regular need to suit up for Delhi in this particular tournament. The weight of his runs and records in the format speak for themselves – but the VHT has plenty of talented and hungry players who would love to say they had the better of the great Kohli. It won’t be easy sailing by any means.
Vijay Hazare Trophy LIVE Updates: It’s a double feature presentation day for us, as eyes turn towards domestic 50-over competition. The reason is simple: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are back. The focus will be on what this pair of Indian superstars can do at the domestic level, having had quiet outings in the Ranji Trophy earlier this year.
Makes for an interesting week as we close out 2025 – stay tuned!
