Kohli and Rohit in focus as Indian cricket’s creme de la creme take guard for the Hazare Trophy

For the second year in a row, the annual domestic one-day tournament, the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT), commences with the clamour surrounding the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction already settled.

While interest from IPL franchises and their team of scouts may be more relaxed, the presence of the Indian team aristocracy is sure to pique the curiosity and allure.

With less than 24 months to go for the ICC ODI World Cup 2027, former captains Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will take the field looking to whet their tools and, in the process, impart wisdom to those embarking upon their initial steps at the domestic level.

Rohit has confirmed his availability for Mumbai’s first two Group C matches in Jaipur. Kohli, too, will feature in Delhi’s opening Group D encounters in Bengaluru, with Rishabh Pant leading the side. A brief recess in India’s international commitments after the multi-format South Africa series also allows some national team regulars, including Shubman Gill, Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya and Sanju Samson, to maintain match sharpness by turning up for their States.

A couple of spots in India’s ODI setup remain in contention, and if the precedent set by Ishan Kishan’s inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad is anything to go by, a strong showing in VHT 2025 could propel players into the 50-over World Cup conversation.

One player who will attract eyeballs is pacer Mohammed Shami, who last played in the Indian Blues during the Champions Trophy. The 35-year-old did not get a look-in for the recent ODI assignment against the Proteas, despite India resting Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. He will need performances that will break the selection door down for Bengal in Group B in Rajkot.

For the first time since 2021, the tournament will see the return of a Plate Group comprising six teams: Nagaland, Meghalaya, Bihar, Manipur, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. This decision makes the contest in the four Elite groups significantly tougher, with only the top two out of eight contenders qualifying for the quarterfinals.

Defending champion Karnataka finds itself in the group of death (Group A) alongside Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy winner Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and fellow five-time winner Tamil Nadu. The Group A matches will take place across four grounds in Ahmedabad.

After the completion of the group stage on January 8, 2026, the bandwagon will shift to the BCCI Centre of Excellence for the knockout rounds. The domestic 50-over champion will be crowned on January 18.