The Delhi & District Cricket Affiliation (DDCA) has despatched waves by means of the cricketing world by naming a powerhouse 20-member squad for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 for the primary two video games. This announcement is headlined by the uncommon return of Virat Kohli to home Record A cricket, marking his first look within the event since 2010.
Following a strict BCCI mandate requiring centrally contracted gamers to take part in at the very least two rounds of the 50-over occasion, Kohli and fellow star Rishabh Pant have confirmed their availability for Delhi’s opening video games. Pant has been formally appointed because the captain, with high-flyer Ayush Badoni named his deputy. With the event set to kick off on December 24, 2025, in Bengaluru, Delhi enters Group D as clear favorites, boasting a roster that blends legendary expertise with explosive younger expertise.
Virat Kohli’s comeback after 15 years within the Vijay Hazare event
Essentially the most vital narrative of the squad choice is the return of Kohli to the Delhi jersey for a home 50-over match after a staggering 15-year hiatus. Kohli, who final performed within the Vijay Hazare Trophy in February 2010, has been in phenomenal kind not too long ago, smashing two centuries through the ODI sequence in opposition to South Africa.
His return will not be merely a formality; it’s a strategic transfer by the BCCI to make sure prime gamers stay match-fit through the three-week hole earlier than India’s ODI sequence in opposition to New Zealand begins on January 11. DDCA President Rohan Jaitley confirmed Kohli’s participation for the primary two video games in opposition to Andhra and Gujarat, the place he’ll probably reunite with long-time good friend Ishant Sharma. For the followers in Bengaluru, the prospect to see Kohli play for his residence state on the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, a venue the place he’s an area icon for his IPL franchise, has turned these home fixtures into a few of the most anticipated matches of the season.
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Delhi squad power beneath Rishabh Pant and the tempo battery
Underneath the captaincy of Rishabh Pant, Delhi has assembled a squad that appears formidable on paper, notably in its bowling division. The inclusion of veteran pacers Ishant Sharma and Navdeep Saini, alongside younger sensation Harshit Rana (who will be a part of after India’s T20I duties), gives a depth of velocity and expertise hardly ever seen in home cricket.
The batting unit is equally sturdy, that includes the aggressive Nitish Rana and former India U-19 captain Yash Dhull, whereas Ayush Badoni gives middle-order stability and tactical help as vice-captain. Explaining the choice, DDCA officers emphasised that this balanced combine is designed to navigate a grueling Group D schedule that features powerhouse groups like Saurashtra and Haryana. By appointing Pant as chief, the selectors have signaled a dedication to fashionable, aggressive white-ball cricket, making certain that the celebrities not solely fulfill their BCCI obligations however actively drive Delhi towards their first title in over a decade.
Delhi squad for the primary two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches
Rishabh Pant (c), Ayush Badoni (vc), Virat Kohli, Arpit Rana, Yash Dhull, Sarthak Ranjan, Priyansh Arya, Tejasvi Singh (wk), Nitish Rana, Hrithik Shokeen, Harsh Tyagi, Simarjeet Singh, Prince Yadav, Divij Mehra, Ayush Doseja, Vaibhav Kandpal, Rohan Rana, Ishant Sharma, Navdeep Saini, Anuj Rawat (standby wicketkeeper)
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