In a highly anticipated return to domestic cricket, Virat Kohli stole the headlines today, Wednesday, December 24, 2025, by leading Delhi to a convincing four-wicket victory over Andhra in their Vijay Hazare Trophy opener.
Playing at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, Kohli’s presence transformed a regular domestic fixture into a global event, as he scored a sublime 131 runs to anchor Delhi’s chase of 299.
Match Summary
| Team | Score | Top Performers |
| Andhra | 298/8 (50 overs) | Ricky Bhui (122), Simarjeet Singh (5/54) |
| Delhi | 300/6 (37.4 overs) | Virat Kohli (131), Priyansh Arya (74), Nitish Rana (77) |
Result: Delhi won by 4 wickets with 74 balls to spare.
1. Kohli’s Historic Return
Making his first appearance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in over 15 years, Kohli looked in pristine touch from the moment he walked in.
- 16,000 List A Runs: With his first run of the day, Kohli became only the second Indian after Sachin Tendulkar to reach 16,000 runs in List A cricket.
- The Century: He reached his 58th List A century in just 83 balls, eventually finishing with 131 off 101 deliveries (14 fours, 3 sixes).
- The Impact: His composure turned a daunting target of 299 into a comfortable stroll, as Delhi finished the game with more than 12 overs remaining.
2. Supporting Acts and Late Drama
While Kohli was the centerpiece, Delhi’s top order provided explosive support.
- Priyansh Arya blazed a quick-fire 74 off 44 balls, including five boundaries and four sixes, setting a high tempo early in the chase.
- Nitish Rana played a solid anchor-role-turned-aggressor, scoring 77 off 55 balls and sharing a massive 160-run partnership with Kohli for the third wicket.
- Mini-Collapse: Following the dismissals of Kohli and Rana, Delhi suffered a minor hiccup, losing three quick wickets including captain Rishabh Pant for just 5 runs. However, the target was small enough for the lower order to see them home.
3. Andhra’s Fighting Total
Earlier in the day, Andhra put up a competitive total of 298/8.
- Ricky Bhui’s Ton: Bhui was the standout performer for Andhra, scoring a valiant 122 off 105 balls to rescue his side from early trouble at 42/2.
- Delhi’s Bowling: Pacer Simarjeet Singh was the pick of the bowlers for Delhi, claiming a brilliant five-wicket haul (5/54) to keep the Andhra scoring in check during the death overs.
Conclusion: A Day of Legends
This victory, coupled with Rohit Sharma’s 155 for Mumbai against Sikkim on the same day, has set a nostalgic and high-scoring tone for the 2025-26 domestic season.
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