The Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 commenced on December 24, 2025, with a total of 32 teams vying for the title in India's premier domestic 50-over competition. Among the opening day matches, the spotlight is on the Group D encounter between Andhra and Delhi, taking place at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

The main attraction of this match is the return of Virat Kohli to the Vijay Hazare Trophy after a gap of 15 years. Kohli's presence in the Delhi squad has generated considerable excitement, with fans and cricket enthusiasts eager to witness the former India captain back in domestic one-day cricket.

However, fans will not be able to watch Kohli from the stands, as the match is being held behind closed doors due to security concerns. The venue was shifted from the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium to the BCCI's Centre of Excellence after permission for spectators was denied.

Despite the lack of live spectators, there is anticipation that the match will be accessible through broadcast and digital platforms. While Star Sports holds the broadcasting rights for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, it remains unconfirmed whether the Delhi vs Andhra Pradesh match will be shown live on the Star Sports network. Live streaming may be available on the JioStar app and website, but official confirmation is still awaited. As of December 23, 2025, there were no confirmed live telecast or live streaming options available.

Kohli's return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy is significant as he hasn't featured in India's domestic List A circuit for nearly a decade and a half. His last appearance in a 50-over domestic match was in 2010, where he represented Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. In his previous stint in the tournament, Kohli scored 819 runs in 13 matches for Delhi, including four centuries and three half-centuries.

Alongside Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant is also a prominent name featuring for Delhi in this match.

In other Vijay Hazare Trophy news, Rohit Sharma is also set to play for Mumbai in their opening matches. Sharma will be available for Mumbai's first two games. Mumbai will face Sikkim in their first match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.

The Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 features 38 teams, including 32 in the Elite division and six in the Plate competition. The teams are divided into four groups of eight, with the top two sides from each group progressing to the quarterfinals. The tournament is scheduled from December 24, 2025, to January 18, 2026.