NEW DELHI: The third round of the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) will be played on Monday, with Delhi and Mumbai both looking to extend their unbeaten runs in the tournament. However, both sides will be without their biggest names, as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will not feature in this round.Delhi are scheduled to take on Saurashtra at the Karnataka Cricket Association (KSCA) Stadium in Alur, while Mumbai will face Chhattisgarh at the Jaipuria Vidyalaya Ground in Jaipur.
Both teams will be will be without the services of Kohli and Rohit, who had committed to playing only the first two matches of the competition.
Why are Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma not playing?
Kohli and Rohit had agreed to limited appearances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and were slated to play just two games in the tournament.Kohli played a pivotal role in Delhi’s wins over Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, scoring 131 and 77 respectively. His return to the competition was noteworthy, coming after a gap of 15 years.Rohit, meanwhile, marked his comeback to the VHT after seven years in emphatic fashion, smashing 155 against Sikkim in his opening match. He also featured against Uttarakhand but suffered a rare golden duck, being dismissed off the first ball he faced.
Will Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma play more matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy?
As per reports, Kohli is expected to return for Delhi’s penultimate league match against Railways on January 6 in Alur.He is set to feature in that game before joining the Indian squad for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, which begins on January 11.Rohit, on the other hand, is unlikely to feature again in the tournament this season.
Virat Kohli in VHT:
Delhi vs Gujarat – 77 off 61 balls (Player of the Match)Delhi vs Andhra – 131 off 101 balls
Rohit Sharma in VHT:
Mumbai vs Uttarakhand – 0 (golden duck)Mumbai vs Sikkim – 155 off 94 balls (Player of the Match)