Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant in list of probables in Delhi’s Vijay Hazare Trophy squad

Last week, Kohli had informed the DDCA that he will be available for selection for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s domestic one-day tournament.

IND vs SA: Virat Kohli won the Player of the Series award as India beat South Africa 2-1 on Saturday. (AP)

The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) announced that Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant have been added to the list of probables in the Delhi team for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy. The list of probables also included the players who are taking part in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Last week, Kohli had informed the DDCA that he will be available for selection for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s domestic one-day tournament. This was after the BCCI’s diktat which had asked both him and Rohit Sharma in November to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy to remain in contention to play for India.

“Virat Kohli has confirmed to the DDCA today that he will play the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Though he has nothing to prove it shows that he still retains passion for the game. His recent hundred against South Africa shows he is still one of the best players in the world. Him playing the domestic tournament will be a motivation for the youngsters,” DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma had told The Indian Express last week. Delhi begin their Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign against Andhra Pradesh in Alur on December 24.

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Kohli had a brilliant series against South Africa and was adjudged Player of the Series for his 302 runs across the three matches. The 37-year-old Kohli bludgeoned an unbeaten 65 in 45 balls to power India to a nine-wicket win over South Africa in the third ODI in Visakhapatnam, making light work of a target of 271 and thus sealing a 2-1 series win. The innings came after Kohli scored centuries in both of the previous matches of the series – a masterful 135 in Ranchi and 102 in Raipur, thus taking his career tally in the format to a scarcely believable 53 tons.

With his exceptional performance in the series, Kohli climbed up to No 2 in the latest ICC rankings, just one place behind Rohit. Kohli hasn’t been the top ranked ODI batter since he conceded his position to Pakistan’s Babar Azam in 2021.

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