The Vijay Hazare Trophy, India's premier domestic 50-over cricket tournament, has seen a surprising resurgence of star power in its 2025-26 edition with
the participation of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
These two modern greats, who have dominated international cricket for over a decade, made headlines by returning to domestic action after long absences.
But as the tournament progresses, questions linger: Will they feature in more matches this season, and could this mark a rare appearance or the start of something more regular?
Both Kohli and Sharma confirmed their availability for the early rounds of the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy, signaling their commitment to the game amid speculation about their futures in shorter formats. Kohli, representing Delhi, last played in the tournament back in 2019, while Sharma's previous appearance for Mumbai was in 2018. Their comebacks were driven by a desire to stay sharp ahead of international commitments, including the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand.
On the opening day, the duo delivered fireworks. Kohli smashed a scintillating 131 off 102 balls against Andhra, including 12 fours and 4 sixes, guiding Delhi to a four-wicket victory. Not to be outdone, Sharma blitzed 155 off 94 deliveries against Sikkim, featuring 18 fours and 9 sixes, as Mumbai cruised to a dominant win. Sharma reached his century in just 62 balls, equaling David Warner for the most 150+ scores in men's List A cricket (now at 7 each) and breaking his own personal record for the fastest List A ton in the tournament.
However, the second round on December 26 brought mixed fortunes. Kohli continued his form with a brisk 77 off 61 balls against Gujarat, helping Delhi secure another win while surpassing Michael Bevan's long-standing record for the highest batting average in List A cricket.
The first match also made Kohli the fastest to 16,000 List A runs, eclipsing Sachin Tendulkar's mark by reaching the milestone in 330 innings. In contrast, Sharma endured a rare failure, falling for a first-ball duck against Uttarakhand, though Mumbai still maintained their undefeated streak.
Will Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma play anymore in Vijay Hazare Trophy?
The immediate outlook differs for the India stalwarts. Kohli is slated to play at least one more match for Delhi against Railways on January 6 - before linking up with the national side for the New Zealand ODI series. Sharma's involvement appears more limited. After the first two games, he has flown back to Mumbai and is unlikely to feature further this season, prioritizing recovery and preparation for international cricket.
Will the duo return next season?
If Virat and Rohit are still in contention for the ODI team, they will surely be coming back for Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2026-27 season. With the ODI World Cup at the horizon at that time, domestic cricket may have enhanced focus and the veterans may feature again for their respective teams.
