Virat Kohli doesn’t come back to domestic cricket just to make up the numbers. When he turned up for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy after a 15-year gap, there was a sense that this was about more than just to fulfill BCCI’s diktat. His hunger was visible and the intent was unmistakable. Kohli’s 131 against Andhra was not the innings of someone winding down. It was the innings of a master still building towards something big. The ODI World Cup 2027.
Chasing a stiff 299 against Andhra, Delhi needed someone to stick around and keep the scoreboard ticking. Kohli provided both. Walking in inside the first over, he batted like a man who owns the format, compiling a fluent 131 off 101 balls, striking 14 fours and three sixes, and finishing the chase with 74 balls to spare. It was an elite knock against a good Andhra side.
Kohli’s Vijay Hazare hundred sends clear World Cup message
It was Kohli’s 58th List A hundred, his fifth for Delhi, and it pushed him past 16,000 List A runs, making him only the second Indian to reach the milestone. He achieved it in just 330 innings, faster than anyone else in men’s List A history.
What stood out even more was the ease. The footwork was sharp, the shot selection was clean, and the hunger was there. Unlike other veterans, who play just to make up the numbers, Kohli was seen dominating. He continued his imperious form which he showcased when he imploded with 302 runs at an unbelievable average of 151 against South Africa.
Coach’s faith, Gambhir’s caution and Kohli’s own numbers
Kohli’s childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma saw enough to make a bold call on the future.
“He is in brilliant form. He continued from where he left against South Africa and took Delhi to victory. He played domestic cricket after a long time, but still performed exceptionally well. He is the most consistent player in the Indian team and is fully ready for the World Cup.”
Yet head coach Gautam Gambhir had a cautious approach. After the South Africa series, Gambhir urged the team to stay in the present, reminding everyone the 2027 World Cup is still two years away and that youngsters must keep pushing.
In 2025, Kohli scored 651 runs in 13 ODIs at an average of 65.10, with four fifty-plus scores including two hundreds. Alongside Rohit Sharma’s own prolific year, the duo finished as the No.1 and No.2 ODI batters of 2025, despite retiring from two other formats.
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