Bengaluru: India’s cricketing superstar Virat Kohli will not feature in Delhi’s Vijay Hazare Trophy clash against Railway. The announcement was confirmed by Delhi’s head coach Sarnadeep Singh.
Kohli, making a domestic return in this premier Indian one-day tournament, had played two matches scoring 131 and 77 runs, showcasing his continued form. Earlier, it was expected that he would take the field against Railway, but now he will instead join the Indian national team for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand, starting January 11 in Vadodara.
Sarnadeep Singh confirmed that pacer Harshit Rana and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant will be available for selection in the Delhi side for this match. He said, “Virat is unavailable. Pant and Harshit will play tomorrow.”
The Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) had earlier indicated that Kohli would participate in the match. Delhi currently tops Group D with four wins out of five matches, and a win against Railway would have cemented their place in the next round.
As per BCCI regulations, centrally contracted players must play at least two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches. Kohli has already fulfilled this requirement, having featured in previous games. The 35-year-old right-hander continues to be in stellar form, having smashed two centuries and an unbeaten 65 in last month’s three-match domestic series against South Africa.
Delhi will now rely on its young talents and experienced campaigners to maintain their momentum as they aim for a place in the tournament’s knockout stages.
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