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The Times Of India |
Dec 26, 2025 , 09:06:20 IST
Before Wednesday, Virat Kohli’s last appearance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy came in February 2010. Fifteen years later, as Delhi gear up for their second outing here, a lingering question hangs in the air: could this be Kohli’s final appearance in the domestic 50-over competition?
Kohli’s presence in domestic cricket is now a rarity, almost an occasion by itself. With the former India captain having already retired from Tests and T20 Internationals, the likelihood of him returning for another Vijay Hazare season appears slim. That very rarity has added a sense of occasion to the ongoing edition, with Kohli’s star power amplifying interest across venues hosting the league matches and reminding everyone of the enduring pull of India’s biggest names.
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Kohli’s innings was not without fortune — he was dropped twice — but it hardly diluted the impact of his performance.
Instead, it underlined the rich vein of form he currently enjoys in the 50-over format. Having retired from Tests and T20Is, Kohli’s focus is firmly on ODIs, with the home series against New Zealand next month and the long road to the 2027 World Cup in mind.
His seamless return to domestic one-day cricket, backed by an exceptional Vijay Hazare record, served as a timely reminder: Virat Kohli remains very much at the centre of India’s limited-overs ambitions.
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Earlier, Andhra rode on a superb century from Ricky Bhui to post a competitive 298 for eight.
Bhui struck 122 off 105 balls, registering his fourth List A hundred and anchoring the innings after a cautious start. He was given a lifeline on 84 but made Delhi pay, particularly targeting pacer Navdeep Saini with a flurry of sixes and boundaries.
Bhui added 92 runs for the third wicket with Shaik Rasheed, pushing Andhra towards a formidable total. Despite his eventual dismissal while accelerating, late-order runs ensured Andhra had something to defend.
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While Kohli played the starring role, Delhi’s chase was strengthened by valuable contributions from the supporting cast.
Priyansh Arya added urgency with a brisk 74 off 44 balls, forging a 113-run second-wicket stand with Kohli. Nitish Rana then took over, stitching a decisive 160-run partnership for the third wicket, scoring a fluent 77 off 55 balls.
Though Delhi lost a few quick wickets after Kohli’s dismissal — including skipper Rishabh Pant — the damage had already been done. The ‘Chase Master’ had ensured Delhi were firmly in control well before the finish line.
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Kohli’s innings was studded with milestones. His 58th List A century also made him the fastest batter to reach 16,000 List A runs, achieving the feat in just 330 innings — far quicker than the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who took 391.
Kohli was in sublime touch from the outset, unfurling a glorious straight drive off India teammate Nitish Kumar Reddy early in his innings. He raced to his fifty in 39 balls and brought up his hundred in 83 deliveries, striking pacer Shiva Narasimha Raju for a boundary to reach the landmark. It was a knock that blended authority with assurance.
Delhi vs Gujarat Live Score: A Long-Awaited Return, Delivered in Style
Virat Kohli turned his return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy after 15 long years into a grand spectacle, producing a vintage hundred that powered Delhi to a four-wicket win over Andhra in their opening Group D match on Wednesday.
Chasing a stiff target of 299, Kohli anchored the pursuit with a majestic 131 off 101 balls, reminding one and all why he remains the gold standard in 50-over cricket.
Supported ably by Nitish Rana and Priyansh Arya, Delhi romped home in just 37.4 overs. What was expected to be a routine domestic fixture instead became a celebration of Kohli’s enduring class and relevance, even away from the international spotlight.