When the 2026–27 Vijay Hazare Trophy kicks off on December 14, centrally contracted Indian players are expected to manage both home and international responsibilities. As he gets ready for the 2027 ODI World Cup cycle, Virat Kohli has faced more pressure to participate in the one-day competition. When assembling squads for the World Cup, the BCCI has stated that domestic cricket participation will be taken into consideration.
Delhi won three points after gaining the lead in the first innings of the Ranji Trophy match against Services, which finished in a tie. Last season, Kohli represented Delhi in two Vijay Hazare Trophy games, scoring 131 against Andhra Pradesh and 77 against Gujarat.
Talking to Times of India, Dahiya said, “If he wants to play, I would love to have him in this dressing room. I would love to have him there just to talk to the boys. I won’t let him go home. I’ll make him sit in the dressing room and tell the boys about his journey, the hard work, the ethics, and the honour of playing for the country.”
The former Indian cricketer who is currently in charge of Delhi’s coaching staff, Vijay Dahiya, has shown a keen interest in having Kohli available for the competition. Dahiya’s pitch extends beyond his desire for Kohli to participate in games. He has outlined how Kohli’s presence may help the team as a whole, both on the field and as a mentor.
On December 13, 16, and 19, India will play Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series. Kohli, who turned 38 on Thursday, currently only plays one format. He may play for Delhi against Chandigarh on December 21, but he will miss the team’s first three Vijay Hazare Trophy games against Goa, Punjab, and Rajasthan. After Delhi opener Priyansh Arya was removed on Day 4 of the Ranji Trophy match against Services, Dahiya, who has seen Kohli’s development during his junior years, also described an exchange with the latter.
