Virat Kohli Refuses To Play Vijay Hazare Trophy For Delhi: Report

Batting superstar Virat Kohli has refused to play Vijay Hazare Trophy for Delhi. According to a report in NDTV on Tuesday (December 2), the 37-year-old right-handed batter from Delhi, who scored a century

for India in the first ODI of ongoing three-match series against South Africa on Sunday (November 30) in Ranchi, has refused to participate in the premier domestic one-day tournament.

The 2025-26 edition of Vijay Hazare Trophy will be played from December 24 to January 18.

“The issue is with the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He (Kohli) simply doesn’t want to play. When Rohit (Sharma) is also playing, how can there be an exception for one player? And what do we tell the other players? That someone is different from all of you?” the source was quoted as saying by NDTV.

While Kohli is unlikely to play for Delhi in the premier domestic 50-over tournament, Rohit Sharma has reportedly made himself available for Mumbai.

Kohli’s record in VHT

According to ESPNCricinfo, Virat has played 13 matches in VHT for Delhi from 2008 to 2010 and amassed a total of 819 runs. His batting average in the premier 50-over domestic tournament is 68.25, and he has scored runs with a strike rate of 106.08. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the former India all-format captain, who holds the record for scoring the most 100s in ODIs, has slammed four centuries and three fifties. His highest individual score in VHT is 124 runs.

MATCHES	INNINGS	RUNS	AVERAGE	STRIKE RATE	BEST SCORE	100/50	4/6s
13	13	819	68.25	106.08	124	4/3	91/17

Kohli has captained Delhi in five VHT matches in 2010 but was only able to win three fixtures.

Rift between Gambhir and Kohli

It has also been reported by NDTV that the relationship between Kohli and Indian men’s cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir is not well due to disagreements over certain important topics regarding the former Indian skipper’s future.