Virat Kohli's absence hits Delhi hard, fail to chase small target in Vijay Hazare Trophy

Published - 31 Dec 2025, 16:29 IST | Updated - 31 Dec 2025, 16:55 IST

In the Round 3 match against Odisha during the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26, Delhi badly missed the services of star batter Virat Kohli. The team lost to the Biplab Samantaray-led side in the recently-concluded match, failing to chase down a 273-run target set by the opposition. Ayush Doseja had replaced Virat Kohli in the Playing XI, as Delhi made a few changes to their line-up from the previous match.

Winning the toss and opting to field first, the decision seemed to have worked wonders, as Prince Yadav (2-57) and Hrithik Shokeen (4-27) delivered beautiful spells and restricted the opposition to 272-8 at the end of 50 overs. The Odisha skipper had top-scored with 72 off 74, a knock that includes three fours and four sixes. The run chase did not seem to be a daunting one, however, destiny had other plans.

In reply, Delhi opened with Priyansh Arya and Sarthak Ranjan, but the former departed after scoring a boundary in the very first over, while the latter departed on the very next ball, with Debabrata Pradhan getting the breakthrough. Being led by India international Rishabh Pant (24 off 28), Delhi expected the star wicketkeeper-batter to play a captain's knock and lead from the front. The Haridwar-born did get a start with three fours and a maximum, but holed out to Om in the 11th over, giving Pradhan his second wicket.

Nitish Rana, another India star, also fell cheaply and walked back after a seven-ball two. After this downfall, hope was all lost, as Delhi's line-up fell like a pack of cards, losing the match by 79 runs. Harsh Tyagi showed some resistance alongside Shokeen, but it was momentary, since the target seemed to be way out of the reach.

In the first couple of rounds, Delhi's Playing XI included arguably the biggest names in modern-day cricket, and the presence was felt instantly. In the opening match, the 37-year-old scored his 59th List-A century at a blistering rate, as Delhi won the match. He returned with a brilliant 77 in the second round clash, and also bagged the Player of the Match accolade for his excellence with the bat, with Delhi winning once again.

Yes, the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) President Rohan Jaitley has confirmed that Virat Kohli has made himself available to play one more round of the Vijay Hazare Trophy on January 6. The star batter will then be joining the Indian team for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand, starting January 11 in Vadodara.