The Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025 is set to differ significantly from previous seasons as cricket stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma return to the domestic scene. Kohli last participated in a VHT game
in 2010, while Rohit played for Mumbai in 2019 against Haryana. Their appearances are linked to the BCCI’s mandate requiring Indian cricketers to play at least two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches.
The tournament kicks off on December 24, with Delhi starting their Elite Group D campaign against Andhra in Bengaluru at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE). Meanwhile, Mumbai will face Sikkim at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. However, cricket fans across the country will not be able to watch these matches online.
According to available information, BCCI’s official broadcasters, JioStar and Star Sports India, will live stream only two VHT matches on Wednesday: Pondicherry vs Tamil Nadu in Ahmedabad and Uttar Pradesh vs Hyderabad in Rajkot.
The crowd is prohibited at the Bengaluru venue, where Kohli will be playing against Andhra, leaving fans reliant on online scorecards for updates on the former India captain’s performance.
In addition to Rohit and Kohli, several prominent Indian stars are returning to the domestic circuit. Pant, a Test regular, will be eager to re-establish himself in white-ball formats, having not represented India in ODIs or T20Is since August 2024.
Shubman Gill, overlooked by selectors for the upcoming T20 World Cup, aims to channel his frustration while playing for Punjab. This serves as a warm-up ahead of next month’s three-match ODI series against New Zealand, where he will lead India.
Gill’s exclusion from India’s T20 World Cup squad and the inclusion of Ishan Kishan, who performed exceptionally in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, hint at potential consequences for Kohli and Rohit if their runs don’t come easily.
(With PTI Inputs)
