Virat Kohli Told To Make Domestic Cricket Return: "I'll Make Him Sit In The Dressing Room"

Virat Kohli hasn't shown intention of playing Vijay Hazare Trophy yet© BCCI/Creimas

Rohit Sharma has already hinted at a return to the Mumbai team for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign, and now, Virat Kohli has been asked to follow suit. With Rohit and Kohli currently active only in ODI cricket, gaining match practice has been a challenge. As both look to remain a part of the Indian squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup, playing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy to get match practice is one viable pathway.

Former India cricketer Vijay Dahiya, who currently coaches the Delhi team, has expressed his keenness to have Kohli in the domestic setup for the one-day tournament, even if he were only to sit on the bench.

"If he wants to play, I would love to have him in this dressing room. I would love to have him there just to talk to the boys. I won't let him go home. I'll make him sit in the dressing room and tell the boys about his journey, the hard work, the ethics, and the honour of playing for the country," Dahiya told the Times of India.

While Kohli has made his intentions of sticking strictly to international ODI cricket clear, Dahiya knows the immense impact having the cricketing icon in the Delhi dressing room could have on the other players. There was a time when Kohli warmed the very same benches at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Now, venues sell out completely, no matter where he plays across the globe.

"I have seen him through all the stages. I can tell the boys where he started and where he is today. There is a pathway. Maybe you cannot become Virat, but you can become someone if you do certain things the right way," Dahiya said.

As India took on New Zealand in the first ODI of the five-match series in Auckland, it was Kohli who slammed a match-winning 74 off 51 balls to hand his team a 1-0 lead.

Kohli returned to the Vijay Hazare Trophy after 15 years in the last campaign, playing two matches for Delhi, against Andhra and Gujarat. He scored 131 runs in the first match and 77 in the second.

The 2026-27 Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign begins on December 14, with Delhi scheduled to play against Goa. Rohit Sharma has already made himself available for selection for Mumbai's fixtures, though the exact number of games he will participate in is yet to be confirmed.

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