Kohli Confirms He Will Play in Vijay Hazare Trophy

Vijay Hazare Trophy: Kohli Confirms He Will Play in Vijay Hazare Trophy

Virat Kohli will play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s domestic 50-over tournament. He has told the Delhi team that he is available, confirmed by DDCA president Rohan Jaitley. The tournament runs from December 24 to January 18, though Kohli may not play every match.

This marks a change in approach for Kohli, who recently suggested he doesn’t believe in too much preparation and relies more on mental strength. Those comments were seen as different from the BCCI’s stance that international players should take part in domestic cricket.

Kohli last played in the Vijay Hazare Trophy back in 2010, just before Sachin Tendulkar’s famous double century against South Africa. In 14 matches, Kohli has scored 819 runs at an average of 68.25, with four centuries and three fifties.

Delhi are in Group D this season, alongside Gujarat, Services, Saurashtra, Odisha, Railways, Haryana, and Andhra. Their first game is against Andhra at Alur.

The BCCI, under head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar, has been firm that top players must play domestic cricket when not on India duty. Rohit Sharma has also confirmed he will play for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy

The much-talked-about BCCI review meeting did not happen on Tuesday. It was expected that selectors, team management, and senior players would meet to discuss communication issues during the second ODI in Raipur on December 3.

But there was no sign of such a meeting. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar, who was in Ahmedabad watching Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches, left the city but did not go to Raipur. A selection committee meeting may still happen on Wednesday, when India’s T20I squad is likely to be announced.

Jasprit Bumrah is expected to be recalled for the T20Is, along with Hardik Pandya, who impressed in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy game against Punjab in Hyderabad. Shubman Gill’s availability is still uncertain as he continues to recover from a neck injury.

India will play five T20Is against South Africa from December 9 to 19, after finishing the ODI series with the third match in Visakhapatnam on December 6.