When the biggest star in Indian cricket chooses domestic cricket over taking rest, it sends a message. After weeks of speculation around whether Virat Kohli would appear in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the noise has settled. Kohli has confirmed his availability to the Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) and will play three matches to prepare for the India vs New Zealand ODI series beginning January 11, 2026.
This will be Kohli’s first Vijay Hazare appearance since 2009, the season after he guided India to the Under-19 World Cup. At 37 now, the motivation to grind in domestic cricket rather than merely train privately in London shows his mindset and his commitment to remain relevant in India’s ODI setup heading toward the 2027 World Cup.
Robin Uthappa backs Kohli: ‘He confirmed three weeks ago’
Former India wicketkeeper-batter Robin Uthappa has shut down rumours that Kohli initially refused to play, revealing the veteran had already decided weeks earlier. The former Kohli teammate also opined that the modern-day great will only get better the more game time he gets under his belt.
“Three weeks ago Virat had confirmed that he would play, and all this about whether he will play or he is not going to play, it’s all conjecture. He already knew, and the communication was already that he would play three weeks ago. For him, the more matches he plays, the better it is for him, because it helps build flow. When you get older, you want to play as many matches as possible,” Uthappa said on his YouTube channel.
Had Kohli not played the Vijay Hazare, there would’ve been a considerable gap of 36 days between his appearances. The player with the most ODI hundreds in history has looked in impeccable touch and would love to continue batting going into the next year.
Uthappa said Kohli’s decision is practical and perfectly timed ahead of the New Zealand ODIs. “How much match practice will he even get in London or in India, if he doesn’t play actual competitive matches? He also feels his mental preparation is key. He has done it for 20 years; he knows how to do it. He is a master of ODI cricket, but still, you need those reps in the middle. It always helps. So, that communication was already done between the important people and him, that he’s going to play a bunch of games for DDCA,” he added.
Kohli to feature in 3 Vijay Hazare Trophy matches
Kohli will play the following matches for Delhi:
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| December 24 | Delhi vs Andhra |
| December 26 | Delhi vs Gujarat |
| January 6, 2026 | Delhi vs Railways |
DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma expressed delight at the return. “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.“
Kohli has struck back-to-back centuries in the ODI series against South Africa, and with him set for domestic action again. The South African bowlers have found no answers to Kohli’s masterclass and the domestic bowlers could find it extremely difficult while bowling to the master of 50-over cricket.
