After a 15-year hiatus, India’s veteran player Virat Kohli made a stunning return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy. During the run chase against Andhra Pradesh on December 24 at the BCCI’s Center of Excellence in Bengaluru, the ‘Chasemaster’ Kohli scored a century behind closed doors.
Although the match wasn’t aired live, there was significant buzz surrounding Kohli’s comeback to domestic white-ball cricket. His childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma, has deemed him fit for the 2027 ODI World Cup after his match-winning 131, calling him the most dependable batter in India’s ODI squad.
“He is in brilliant form. He batted very well and ensured Delhi’s victory. He played domestic cricket after a long time, but still performed exceptionally well. He is the most consistent player in the Indian team and is fully ready for the World Cup,” Sharma told ANI.
Kohli, alongside Rohit Sharma, has stepped away from Test and T20 formats. He will continue to participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy as he prepares for the three-ODI series against New Zealand next month. However, his return to M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has been postponed. The stadium has not received the necessary government approvals to host a cricket event since the tragic incident during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) victory celebrations, which resulted in 11 fatalities and numerous injuries.
