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A BCCI official has said Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have made themselves available for the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 on their own accord and that no one has forced the two senior players to take part in the domestic tournament. Kohli recently confirmed his availability for the tournament for Delhi.
The former India captain last played for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2010. Kohli is expected to feature in at least two of Delhi's group-stage matches in the tournament in Bengaluru this season. Kohli is currently in action for India in the ongoing ODI series against South Africa at home.
Rohit Sharma too has reportedly told the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) that he will be available to play for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26. Both Kohli and Rohit quit Test cricket within a week earlier this year and play only ODIs for India now.
Multiple reports had earlier claimed that Kohli and Rohit have agreed to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy after BCCI's diktat earlier this year, where the board asked all contracted players to prioritise domestic cricket when not on national duty. However, a BCCI official has claimed the duo were not forced to play the premier 50-over domestic tournament.
"Nobody has forced them to return to the domestic circuit. Both Rohit and Kohli have made themselves available for the Vijay Hazare Trophy on their own accord," a BCCI official was quoted as saying by News18.
Kohli and Rohit have been in top-notch form for India despite featuring only in a single format for the country in international cricket. The duo continue to go strong amid questions over their future in the race to the 2027 ODI World Cup. After winning the Player of the Series in the ODI series against Australia, Rohit slammed a half-century in the first ODI against South Africa last week.
Kohli, who notched up a half-century in the final ODI against Australia in Sydney, has slammed back-to-back centuries in the first two ODIs against South Africa. After a magnificent 135-run knock in the first ODI against the Proteas in Ranchi, Kohli slammed a brilliant 103 in the 2nd ODI in Raipur on Wednesday.
It was Kohli's 53rd ton in ODIs as he extended his overall tally to 84 centuries in international cricket. Kohli is now only 16 shy of equalling the legendary Sachin Tendulakar's record for 100 centuries in international cricket.
