The Vijay Hazare Trophy is all set to light up the domestic cricket calendar this Wednesday, with the 33rd edition of India’s premier List A tournament gaining extra sheen thanks to the participation of some of the biggest names in Indian cricket.
Former India captains Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma headline a star-studded field in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26, scheduled from December 24 to January 8, as the BCCI’s directive mandating national players to feature in domestic competitions comes into effect. The tournament will feature 32 teams, divided into four groups of eight, with matches spread across five cities.
Ro-Ko Return Adds Extra Buzz
The presence of Kohli and Rohit has significantly raised anticipation levels. Both stalwarts have retired from Tests and T20 Internationals and are now active only in the 50-over format. Despite impressive recent performances in ODIs — Kohli being Player of the Series against South Africa and Rohit smashing a century in Australia — the duo has been advised to use the Vijay Hazare Trophy as match practice to maintain rhythm.
Kohli’s participation marks a rare return to the competition. His last Vijay Hazare appearance for Delhi came back in the 2009–10 season, when he captained the side. Rohit Sharma last played the tournament in October 2018, turning out for Mumbai in the quarterfinal and semifinal.
Galaxy of Indian Stars on Display
Apart from Kohli and Rohit, the tournament will see several high-profile Indian cricketers in action, including Risabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, Arshdeep Singh and others.
Mumbai, captained by Shardul Thakur, are placed in Group C and will lock horns with a formidable Punjab side led by India Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill. The group also includes Maharashtra, Goa, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Chhattisgarh. Mumbai last lifted the title in the 2020–21 season.
Kohli is part of the Rishabh Pant-led Delhi squad in Group D, alongside Haryana, Saurashtra, Gujarat, Andhra, Odisha, Services and Railways.
Defending champions Karnataka, who clinched their fifth title last season by defeating Vidarbha in the final, find themselves in a competitive group featuring Jharkhand — fresh off their Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy triumph — along with Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Tripura and Puducherry.
Bengaluru Matches Shifted, Fans to Miss Out
According to an IANS report, all Vijay Hazare Trophy matches originally scheduled to be held at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru have been shifted to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) following a directive from the Karnataka government citing security concerns. An official confirmed on Tuesday that the decision was taken earlier in the day after authorities raised issues related to safety and crowd management. The official added that the participating teams had been informed of the change, with pre-match training sessions also relocated to the CoE. All Vijay Hazare Trophy matches in Bengaluru will be conducted behind closed doors, with the city police assuring adequate security arrangements around the Aerospace Park area where the Centre of Excellence is located.
Meanwhile, the Bengaluru City Police had earlier refused permission for the Vijay Hazare Trophy match between Delhi and Andhra Pradesh at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, citing serious safety and crowd-control concerns. Following inspections by the Bengaluru Police Commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority, and the Fire Department, critical gaps in venue infrastructure and emergency preparedness were identified, prompting the shift to the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
More Than Just the Big Two
Beyond the Kohli-Rohit spotlight, the tournament offers a crucial opportunity for Suryakumar Yadav, who is searching for form ahead of India’s upcoming T20I series against New Zealand starting January 21.
For Rishabh Pant, the Vijay Hazare Trophy could serve as a defining stage. With no recent outings in T20Is or ODIs, Pant will have the chance to play the entire group phase and potential knockouts — an opportunity similar to Ishan Kishan’s domestic resurgence earlier this season.
With matches also set to be played in Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Ranchi, and with five different winners in the last five seasons, the Vijay Hazare Trophy once again promises intense competition, compelling storylines and a perfect midweek kickoff to India’s domestic cricket spectacle.
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