The suspense surrounding Virat Kohli’s availability for Delhi in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26 has finally been put to rest. Former India captain Kohli will turn out for Delhi in their penultimate league fixture against Railways on January 6 at the KSCA ground in Alur before linking up with the Indian squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand.
Kohli had already featured in Delhi’s first two matches of the domestic 50-over tournament, played on December 24 and 26 in Bengaluru, before temporarily leaving the squad to spend time with his family. His absence from subsequent matches had fuelled speculation over whether he would return to complete his domestic commitments. However, Cricbuzz has confirmed, citing a senior Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) official, that the senior batter will indeed make himself available for the crucial clash against Railways.
Kohli’s return is expected to further strengthen Delhi, who have enjoyed a positive start to their Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign. The match against Railways will be Delhi’s penultimate league fixture and could play a key role in shaping their knockout prospects.
In contrast, Rohit Sharma, who also made his return to domestic cricket earlier in the season, has completed his domestic commitments. The India captain has confirmed that he will not feature in any further domestic matches this season and will next be seen in the ODI series against New Zealand.
Kohli’s impactful return to domestic cricket
Kohli’s comeback to domestic one-day cricket has already made a significant impact. Across his two appearances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy this season, the batting stalwart amassed 208 runs, underlining his form and hunger for runs. His performances included a commanding century in Delhi’s opening fixture against Andhra Pradesh, an innings that not only powered his side to victory but also saw him achieve a major personal milestone.
During that knock, Kohli became the fastest batter to reach 16,000 runs in List A cricket, further cementing his status as one of the modern game’s most prolific run-scorers. His presence at the top of the order brought stability and confidence to the Delhi batting line-up, helping the team register back-to-back wins in his first two outings.
Kohli’s willingness to turn out in domestic cricket has been widely appreciated, especially at a time when the BCCI has encouraged senior players to remain connected with the domestic circuit. His participation has not only boosted Delhi’s campaign but has also drawn significant attention to the tournament.
Focus shifts to international duty
Following the January 6 match against Railways, Kohli will shift his focus entirely to international cricket. The veteran batter is set to join the Indian squad for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, scheduled to begin on January 11.
Kohli heads into the series in strong form, having smashed back-to-back centuries in India’s recent ODI series against South Africa. Those performances reaffirmed his dominance in the 50-over format and silenced any lingering doubts about his place in the side.
The New Zealand series will serve as another opportunity for Kohli to build momentum ahead of a packed international calendar. India are expected to field a strong squad for the home series, with the management keen to maintain continuity and form in the ODI setup.
India vs New Zealand ODI schedule
The three-match ODI series will be played across three venues, all afternoon starts:
- 1st ODI: January 11, 2026 – Baroda (Kotambi Stadium) – 1:30 PM IST
- 2nd ODI: January 14, 2026 – Rajkot (Niranjan Shah Stadium) – 1:30 PM IST
- 3rd ODI: January 18, 2026 – Indore (Holkar Stadium) – 1:30 PM IST
With Kohli balancing domestic and international commitments seamlessly, his brief return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy once again underlines his commitment to Indian cricket across all levels. As Delhi prepare for their clash against Railways, all eyes will be on the former captain to see if he can produce another telling performance before switching back to national colours.
