In a late development, Indian cricket star Virat Kohli has been ruled out of Delhi's upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy group match. The high-stakes encounter against Railways, scheduled for Tuesday, January 6, at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, will proceed without the premier batter.
Fulfilling the BCCI Mandate
As per the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) guidelines for centrally contracted players, Kohli was required to feature in a minimum of two domestic List A games. The former captain successfully met this obligation earlier in the tournament. He turned out for Delhi in two matches, delivering impressive knocks of 131 runs against Andhra and 77 runs against Gujarat. His contributions were instrumental in securing consecutive victories for the side.
Delhi's coach, Sarandeep Singh, confirmed the news to Hindustan Times, stating simply, "No, he is not available." This decision comes despite an earlier indication from DDCA president Rohan Jaitley last week that Kohli would participate in the Railways fixture.
Record-Breaking Form and Shift in Focus
During his brief domestic stint, Kohli showcased sublime touch. His innings of 131 was particularly noteworthy as it propelled him to a historic milestone. He became the fastest player to score 16,000 List A runs, achieving the feat in just 330 innings. He surpassed the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who had taken 391 innings to reach the same landmark.
With the mandatory appearances completed, Kohli's focus now shifts entirely to national duty. The Indian team is set to host New Zealand for a three-match ODI series, commencing on January 11. His absence from the Delhi lineup is seen as a precautionary measure ahead of the international assignment. This follows a strong white-ball season for Kohli in 2024, where he amassed 302 runs in a series against South Africa.
Implications and What Could Have Been
Kohli's withdrawal means Delhi will have to maintain their position at the top of Group D without their star player. It also denies fans a potential intriguing sub-plot. Had he played, Kohli would have faced Railways pacer Himanshu Sangwan, the bowler who dismissed him in what turned out to be Kohli's final red-ball match of his career.
With this development, both of India's senior batting stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, have now completed their scheduled domestic appearances for the current season. All eyes will now be on the duo as they prepare to lead India's batting charge against the visiting New Zealand team.
