The Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 has garnered significant attention due to the return of star Indian cricketers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to domestic cricket. However, both players were absent from their respective teams' third-round matches, leaving fans curious.
Both Kohli and Sharma had initially committed to playing only the first two matches of the tournament for their respective sides. Kohli represented Delhi, while Sharma played for Mumbai. According to reports, this limited availability was pre-planned.
In his return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy after 15 years, Kohli played a crucial role in Delhi's victories against Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, scoring 131 and 77 respectively. During his appearances, Kohli also broke a record, becoming the fastest to reach 16,000 List A runs, achieving the milestone in just 330 innings and surpassing Sachin Tendulkar. Sharma, who made his comeback to the domestic circuit after seven years, made a strong statement by scoring 155 against Sikkim but was dismissed for a duck in the following match against Uttarakhand.
While both players were initially slated to miss subsequent rounds, there's a slight change in plans for Kohli. Rohan Jaitley, the President of the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA), confirmed that Kohli will play one more match for Delhi against Railways on January 6 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. This decision is reportedly part of Kohli's preparation for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand. Sharma, however, is unlikely to participate further in the Vijay Hazare Trophy this season.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has mandated that centrally contracted players participate in at least two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches. Kohli's decision to play a third game demonstrates his commitment to maintaining match fitness ahead of India's busy schedule.
Both Kohli and Sharma are expected to be key members of the Indian squad for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, which is set to begin on January 11 in Vadodara. The team is expected to assemble by January 8, with Kohli potentially joining a day early to begin preparations.
