Kohli was in red-hot form in the recent ODI series against South Africa.
| Photo Credit: K.R. DEEPAK
Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli headline Delhi’s 20-member squad for the opening two games of the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy. The domestic 50-over tournament kicks off on December 24. Delhi, placed in Group-D, will play all its group-stage matches in Bengaluru.
With the BCCI making it mandatory for all members of the Indian team to participate in at least two rounds of the List-A event, Pant and Kohli confirmed their availability to the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA). Kohli’s presence was confirmed by DDCA president Rohan Jaitley on December 2. Pant will lead Delhi in the matches against Andhra and Gujarat.
Kohli was in red-hot form during the recent three-match ODI series against South Africa at home, smashing two tons and an unbeaten half-century in a 2-1 win for the host. Kohli’s next international assignment will be a three-match ODI series against New Zealand starting on January 11. Kohli’s last appearance for Delhi came against Railways in the Ranji Trophy in January.
The squad also features veteran pacer Ishant Sharma. Coincidentally, Ishant and Kohli, who are known to be good mates, made their debut for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy together in 2006.
The squad: Rishabh Pant, Virat Kohli, Ishant Sharma, Navdeep Saini, Ayush Badoni, Arpit Rana, Yash Dhull, Sarthak Ranjan, Priyansh Arya, Tejasvi Dahiya, Nitish Rana, Hrithik Shokeen, Harsh Tyagi, Simarjeet Singh, Prince Yadav, Divij Mehra, Ayush Doseja, Vaibhav Kandpal, Rohan Rana, Anuj Rawat (standby).
Published – December 19, 2025 07:40 pm IST
