Virat Kohli has spent nearly two decades carrying Indian cricket on his shoulders, setting standards with his hunger, discipline and sheer volume of runs. Wherever he plays, attention follows and expectations rise automatically. His presence alone changes the mood of any match.
That’s exactly what happened when Virat Kohli returned to the Vijay Hazare Trophy after 15 years. Representing Delhi in Bengaluru, the former India captain wasted no time reminding everyone of his class. He played a key role in Delhi’s back-to-back wins, opening their campaign on a high note with performances that felt both nostalgic and commanding.
Against Andhra Pradesh, Virat Kohli anchored a demanding chase with a fluent century, scoring 131 off 101 balls to guide Delhi past a target close to 300. It was vintage Kohli — composed under pressure and ruthless once settled. He followed that up with a crucial half-century against Gujarat, scoring 77 off 61 balls in a tense contest that Delhi won by just seven runs.
At 37, Virat Kohli looked far from done but his short stint in the tournament ended without another century, owing to a moment of brilliance from Gujarat spinner Vishal Jayswal. The left-armer tempted Kohli out of his crease, got the ball to turn sharply, and the wicketkeeper completed a smart stumping. It was one of those rare dismissals that makes headlines simply because of who’s walking back.
Here is how Vishal Jayswal managed to get Virat Kohli out:
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Vishal Jayswal went on to finish with impressive figures, removing not just Virat Kohli but also other key Delhi batters, including the captain. For the young bowler, it was a career-defining spell. Later, he shared his emotions online, reflecting on how surreal it felt to move from watching Kohli on television to sharing the field with him — and even dismissing him. He described the moment as something he would treasure forever, grateful for the journey cricket had given him. Virat Kohli also signed the ball for Vishal Jayswal which is certainly worth a treasure for the Gujarat bowler.
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Virat Kohli left Bengaluru soon after the two matches, though reports suggest that he could feature in another game before team India’s upcoming ODI series against New Zealand. Meanwhile, the tournament also saw Rohit Sharma grab attention, smashing a big hundred for Mumbai before suffering a rare golden duck in his next outing.
One legend returned, another moment was created and Indian domestic cricket got its spotlight back.
