Overview:
Kohli’s century came on the heels of consecutive ODI hundreds against South Africa, reaffirming his value in 50-over cricket.
Virat Kohli’s childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma, has expressed confidence that the former India captain is fully geared up for the 2027 ODI World Cup, following his century for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy comeback.
Virat Kohli returned to the Vijay Hazare Trophy after more than ten years, as Delhi took on Andhra Pradesh at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on Wednesday, the opening day of India’s premier 50-over competition. Batting with his signature control, he smashed 131 off 101 balls, steering Delhi to a successful chase of 299.
Rajkumar Sharma highlighted that Kohli’s performance proved he hadn’t lost his edge, even after an extended absence from domestic cricket.
All shots of Virat Kohli from yesterday’s match 🥶 pic.twitter.com/Fncaltbbvy
— Aryan🏴 (@lordhasfallen) December 25, 2025
“He is in outstanding form. He batted brilliantly and led Delhi to victory. Despite returning to domestic cricket after a long break, he delivered an exceptional performance. He remains the most consistent player in the Indian team and is fully prepared for the World Cup,” Rajkumar Sharma told ANI.
His 12 fours and three sixes helped him become the quickest batter to 16,000 List A runs, reaching the landmark in 330 innings, ahead of Sachin Tendulkar’s 391. Kohli is now only the second Indian to cross this milestone, cementing his dominance in the 50-over game.
Kohli’s century came on the heels of consecutive ODI hundreds against South Africa, reaffirming his value in 50-over cricket. Now retired from T20Is and Tests, he is focused entirely on ODIs with an eye on the 2027 World Cup. His comeback to domestic cricket reflects both the BCCI’s emphasis on senior players participating in domestic tournaments and Kohli’s own goal of staying match-ready and in form.
Kohli came to the crease in the first over and steadily took command of Delhi’s chase. He first built a 113-run partnership for the second wicket with opener Priyansh Arya and then added a crucial 160-run stand for the third wicket alongside Nitish Rana. Kohli was eventually dismissed for 131 with just 26 runs remaining. Rana contributed 77 off 55 balls, while Arya scored a fluent 74 from 44 deliveries, as Delhi comfortably chased the target in 37.4 overs.
Comments are closed.