India cricket team star Virat Kohli is all set to return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy after a 15-year gap. On Tuesday, Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) president told news agency PTI that the former Indian captain had confirmed his availability for the tournament, dismissing reports of the star denying to feature in the tournament. As per reports, Kohli will feature in as many as three VHT 2025 matches to prepare for the IND vs NZ ODI series which begins in January 2026.
Virat Kohli to play in 3 VHT matches
As per ABP, Kohli will take part in three Vijay Hazare Trophy matches in December. He will first take part in Delhi’s tournament opener against Andhra on December 24 following which he will also play against Gujarat on December 26. His final VHT appearance before the New Zealand series will be against Railways on January 6, 2026.
| Date | Match |
| December 24 | Delhi vs Andhra |
| December 26 | Delhi vs Gujarat |
| January 6, 2026 | Delhi vs Railways |
“Virat Kohli has confirmed to the DDCA today that he will play the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Though he has nothing to prove it shows that he still retains passion for the game. His recent hundred against South Africa shows he is still one of the best players in the world. Him playing the domestic tournament will be a motivation for the youngsters,” DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma told The Indian Express.
The three-match ODI series against New Zealand will begin from January 11 onwards. Once the India vs South Africa ODI series ends on December 6, he’ll take about two weeks to rest as Delhi’s VHT campaign begins against Andhra on December 24 in Alur.
