Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26: Virat Kohli is gearing up for a long-awaited return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy, almost sixteen years after he last featured in the tournament. The India star, who last played the domestic List A competition during the 2009-10 season, is now ready to represent Delhi once again in the upcoming edition of the 50-over event.
The Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) has confirmed his participation, and fans will be excited to see Kohli back on the domestic stage. The Vijay Hazare Trophy begins on December 24, right after the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, with Delhi placed in Group D alongside Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Saurashtra, Odisha, Services, Railways, and Haryana.
How Much Will Virat Kohli Earn?
Even though Virat Kohli is one of the biggest names in world cricket, his earnings in the Vijay Hazare Trophy will follow the standard domestic pay structure. The BCCI pays domestic List A players based on total matches played, not on their international status or central contract.
Players with 20 or fewer List A matches earn Rs 40,000 per game. Those with 21 to 40 matches make Rs 50,000 per match. Anyone with 41 or more games, like Kohli, who has played over 300 List A matches, receives Rs 60,000 per match.
Since Delhi has seven league matches scheduled and Kohli is expected to feature in only three (against Andhra on December 24, Gujarat on December 26, and Railways on January 6), he could earn around Rs 1.8 lakh in total from the fixture list. This is a small figure compared to his A+ central contract, which pays him INR 7 crore annually, along with higher match fees for international cricket.
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Kohli played Ranji Trophy cricket last season, fulfilling BCCI participation guidelines, and now will make a return to domestic one-day cricket after over fifteen years.
Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 – Delhi’s Full Group Stage Schedule
Virat Kohli will turn out for Delhi in Elite Group D. The team will play all group matches in Bengaluru across different venues, beginning their campaign on December 24 at Alur Cricket Stadium against Andhra.
Their next fixture will be against Gujarat on December 26, also at Alur. On December 29, they meet Saurashtra at Alur Stadium II, followed by Odisha on December 31 at Alur Stadium III.
Delhi will face Services on January 3 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, before taking on Railways on January 6 at Alur Stadium II. Their final group match comes on January 8 against Haryana, again at the Chinnaswamy.
If Delhi qualifies for knockouts, fans might witness more of Kohli and possibly Rohit Sharma, adding even more excitement to the tournament.
The knockout phase begins with pre-quarterfinals on January 9. Quarter-finals will be played on January 12 and 13, semi-finals on January 15 and 16, and the grand final on January 18.
Where to Watch the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 Tournament
Cricket followers can enjoy live coverage of the Vijay Hazare Trophy through JioCinema, available for free on its app and website. Most matches will stream online, making it the primary way to follow the action.
Only selected knockout games will be available on television through Sports18 Network and Colors Cineplex, as group-stage matches generally do not air on TV.
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