Kohli to bridge 12-year List A gap in Vijay Hazare Trophy return
Kohli to bridge 12-year List A gap in Vijay Hazare Trophy return
Virat Kohli returns to List A cricket in Bengaluru, but the Vijay Hazare Trophy opener will be played behind closed doors amid security concerns.
Virat Kohli is set to bridge a 12-year gap since his last List A appearance when Delhi takes on Andhra in the Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite Group-D opener. The match will be staged at the BCCI Centre of Excellence on Bengaluru’s outskirts after permission for the original venue was denied. The CoE venue will operate behind closed doors as seating arrangements are not available.
The fixture had initially been slated for the Alur Grounds, but Kohli’s participation sparked a move to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. That plan hit trouble when a review committee, formed to assess KSCA’s request to host the game, found non-compliance with the Justice Michael D’Cunha report—part of the probe into a stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s celebrations in June 2025. As a result, authorities blocked the larger stadium for this match, citing security concerns.
In Delhi, Kohli’s Ranji Trophy comeback earlier this year drew more than 12,000 fans, underscoring the appetite for his presence. But in Bengaluru, fans face a long trek—potentially about 50 kilometres from the city centre to see him, if at all, as access will be restricted to the CoE campus and not the stadium perimeter. The atmosphere will be markedly different: a star appearance without the roar of a packed crowd, yet with the anticipation of Kohli’s approach and energy still palpable.
Kohli’s return, complemented by a star-studded lineup in the broader tournament, continues to draw attention to India’s domestic circuit. While the absence of spectators shifts the dynamic, interest remains high among fans and pundits who are eager to see how Kohli adapts to a List A format after such a long gap. The match promises to offer a glimpse of a celebrated batsman’s resilience and competitive spirit, even if the stands stay quiet.
