New Delhi: Virat Kohli is heading back to domestic one-day cricket. The star batter has confirmed his availability to the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) that he will be available for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy, making it his first appearance in the competition since 2010. DDCA president Rohan Jaitley revealed the development on Tuesday to PTI, finally putting an end to speculations surrounding Kohli’s participation.
Kohli last played a Vijay Hazare Trophy match more than 15 years ago. His return instantly adds major buzz to Delhi’s campaign as the team prepares to open their season on 24 December against Andhra Pradesh. The match which might have otherwise been a regular domestic fixture is now expected to draw a bigger crowd than usual.
The 37-year-old hasn’t featured in a List A game for Delhi since the 2013 NKP Salve Challenger Trophy. With the BCCI encouraging centrally contracted players to feature in domestic cricket when available, Kohli’s approval aligns perfectly with the board’s stance.
King Kohli’s form in ODIs remains as sharp as he recently struck his 52nd ODI century against South Africa in Ranchi, reinforcing why he still remains India’s most reliable batter in the format. The shift to being an ODI-only player after stepping away from Tests earlier this year hasn’t slowed him down one bit.
More to follow…