The Vijay Hazare Trophy is only a few hours away and the build-up has gathered momentum as teams assemble in Bengaluru for India's premier domestic one-day competition.
Among the biggest talking points
is Team Delhi's campaign opener against Andhra - and the return of a familiar face to the capital's white-ball set-up.
Virat Kohli has rejoined Delhi for the Vijay Hazare Trophy after a 15-year absence, a development that has instantly elevated interest around the tournament. The former India captain is set to play under Rishabh Pant, who will lead Delhi in the competition. The two senior cricketers have already begun preparations together, with images from their training session quickly going viral across social media platforms.
Photographs shared by PTI from the nets in Bengaluru captured Kohli in conversation with Pant, while another frame showed him training alongside experienced campaigners such as Ishant Sharma. For a player who has spent the majority of his career juggling international commitments and the IPL, Kohli's presence in a domestic one-day tournament has added an extra layer of intrigue to Delhi's campaign.
According to PTI, Kohli is yet to finalise the exact number of matches he will play for Delhi, with the possibility of featuring in two or three games still open. The star batter had been sharpening his skills in Mumbai with former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar before joining the squad in Bengaluru. His arrival on Tuesday night has only fuelled speculation that he could turn out in Delhi's opening fixtures.
Delhi will kick off their Elite Group D campaign against Andhra at the BCCI Centre of Excellence after the Karnataka government declined permission to host the matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium due to security concerns. Gujarat are slated to be their next opponents in the group stage.
For Pant, the tournament represents an opportunity to make a strong case for himself in white-ball cricket. The wicketkeeper-batter has not featured for India in ODIs or T20Is since August 2024 and will be eager to make the most of his time in the domestic circuit as Delhi look to make a strong start.
