Cricket fans eagerly awaiting the return of Indian superstars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to domestic cricket are set for a disappointment regarding live coverage. The stalwarts are confirmed to feature in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 for their state teams, but their specific group stage matches will not be available on live television or digital streams.
Star-Studded Domestic Returns
The Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 has garnered unprecedented attention with the confirmed participation of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Kohli will be turning out for Delhi in Group D, while Rohit Sharma will lead Mumbai's charge in Group C. Their involvement has significantly raised the profile of the domestic 50-over tournament.
They are not the only big names gracing the competition. The tournament will also feature other Indian team regulars like Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, and Abhishek Sharma, all representing their respective state sides, making this one of the most high-profile editions in recent memory.
Match Schedule and Venue Details
The specific fixtures involving the two icons are scheduled for December 23. Virat Kohli's Delhi side is set to clash with Andhra Pradesh. This match was originally slated for Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium but had to be relocated. The Karnataka government denied permission to hold matches there citing security reasons. Consequently, the game will now be played at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Hyderabad.
On the same day, Rohit Sharma's Mumbai will begin their campaign against Sikkim. This match, along with Mumbai's following fixture against Uttarakhand, will be held at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Both matches are scheduled for a 9:00 AM IST start, with the toss taking place at 8:30 AM IST.
Live Streaming and Broadcast Blackout
Despite the massive star power on display, fans will not be able to watch these particular matches live. As of December 23, there will be no live telecast or streaming of the games featuring Kohli and Rohit. This is due to logistical constraints faced by the broadcasters.
With all 38 teams in the tournament playing their matches on the same day, broadcasting facilities have been set up at only two select venues: the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot. Since the Delhi and Mumbai games are being played in Hyderabad and Jaipur respectively, they fall outside the purview of the available TV production setup.
Cricket enthusiasts will have to rely on live score updates and match reports from official sources and sports news platforms to follow the action. The return of the two modern greats to the domestic fold highlights the depth of Indian cricket, even as the broadcast situation underscores the challenges of covering a vast, simultaneous tournament.
