Kohli, Sharma Return to Domestic Cricket in Vijay Hazare Trophy

India’s cricket superstars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are back in action in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, bringing renewed focus to India’s domestic 50-over competition. The two batting legends are leading Delhi and Mumbai respectively, with both teams required to field first after losing the coin toss. This marks a significant moment as fans eagerly await their performance at the domestic level following relatively quiet outings in the Ranji Trophy earlier this year.

Challenging Conditions Await Opening Batsmen

Early winter mornings at the tournament venues have created favorable conditions for seamers, with two new balls in play during the opening hours. This challenging environment will test openers like Rohit Sharma, who returns to domestic cricket after suiting up for Mumbai in 2018. The cool air and moisture in the pitch are expected to provide significant assistance to fast bowlers, making batting particularly difficult during the first hour of play.

Star-Studded Lineups with Notable Absences

Delhi’s squad features Rishabh Pant as captain, who is determined to regain favor in white-ball formats ahead of upcoming international commitments. The Delhi vs Andhra match was relocated to the BCCI Centre of Excellence on the outskirts of Bengaluru for safety reasons, moving from the original Chinnaswamy Stadium venue. Mumbai’s squad, captained by Shardul Thakur, will operate without key players including Shreyas Iyer (injured), Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Ajinkya Rahane, placing additional responsibility on Rohit’s shoulders.

Meanwhile, young sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi stole headlines by scoring the second-fastest List A century by an Indian, blasting a 36-ball hundred for Bihar against Arunachal Pradesh.