The upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 season is set to transcend its status as a mere domestic one-day competition, acquiring an unprecedented level of prestige and attention. This transformation is powered by the confirmed participation of modern-day legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who will grace the tournament alongside India's emerging talents. The action commences on Wednesday, December 24, marking a significant moment for the country's white-ball cricket structure.
Star Power Lights Up Domestic Arena
For the first time in many years, India's most celebrated cricketers will share the domestic stage with the next generation, shifting the spotlight directly onto the nation's talent pipeline. This move follows a BCCI directive mandating all centrally contracted players to feature in a minimum of two Vijay Hazare matches. The tournament field is glittering with names like Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, and Abhishek Sharma, but all eyes are firmly on the iconic duo.
Virat Kohli makes a monumental return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy after a gap of 15 years. He has been preparing in Mumbai with former batting coach Sanjay Bangar and is expected to represent Delhi in Elite Group D. Delhi's opening fixtures are in Bengaluru against Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.
Rohit Sharma has confirmed he will lead Mumbai in their first two matches against Sikkim and Uttarakhand in Jaipur on December 24 and 26. His involvement underscores the evolving dynamics within Indian cricket. Other key players have points to prove: Rishabh Pant, a Test regular, aims to reignite his white-ball credentials, while Shubman Gill will look to answer his T20 World Cup omission with big runs for Punjab ahead of an ODI captaincy role.
Bowling Talent in Focus for Selectors
While batting stars dominate headlines, the tournament presents a critical platform for India's pace bowling prospects. With no recent breakthrough akin to Mohammed Siraj's rise, this edition is pivotal for several young quicks. National selectors will be closely monitoring performances from bowlers like Gurjapneet Singh (Tamil Nadu), Gurnoor Brar (Punjab), Yudhvir Singh (Jammu & Kashmir), Anuj Thakral (Haryana), and Sakib Hussain (Bihar).
Tournament Format, Groups, and Logistics
The 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy features a total of 38 teams, divided into Elite and Plate categories. The Elite division consists of 32 teams split across four groups of eight. Each team will play a round-robin league format, with the top two from each Elite group progressing to the quarter-finals, followed by semi-finals and the final.
The Plate group comprises six teams, with promotion and relegation rules active for the following season. The Elite groups are as follows:
Group A: Kerala, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Tripura
Group B: Vidarbha, Hyderabad, Bengal, Baroda, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, J&K
Group C: Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Mumbai, Uttarakhand, Sikkim
Group D: Railways, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Saurashtra, Delhi, Services, Odisha
Matches will be hosted across multiple venues: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Alur, Jaipur, and Rajkot. All games are scheduled for a 9 am start. Fans can catch the live telecast on the Star Sports Network in India. Live streaming will be available on the JioHotstar app and WBSuite.
The infusion of top-tier talent into the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 promises to elevate the competition's intensity and quality. It provides a unique opportunity for fans to see established stars in a domestic setting and for selectors to assess the future of Indian cricket in a high-stakes environment.
