The opening round of the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy’s Elite stage was headlined by the return of two modern greats, as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced their presence with commanding centuries to power their teams to comprehensive victories on Wednesday.
In a day that underscored the staggering depth of Indian domestic cricket, Kohli’s masterful 131 for Delhi and Sharma’s brutal 155 for Mumbai were the standout performances, overshadowing several other high-scoring thrillers, including a stunning 400+ run chase by Karnataka.
The Headline Acts: Kohli and Rohit’s Dominant Returns
Virat Kohli’s Century Powers Delhi
In his first Vijay Hazare Trophy match in 12 years, Virat Kohli delivered a batting masterclass for Delhi. Chasing a challenging 299 set by Andhra Pradesh, Delhi lost opener Arpit Rana for a duck. Kohli, walking in at No. 3 in the first over, took charge immediately.
He raced to a 39-ball fifty in a crucial 113-run partnership with the explosive Priyansh Arya (74 off 44). Kohli then combined with Nitish Rana, bringing up his century in 83 balls before eventually falling for a majestic 131. His knock anchored Delhi’s successful chase, which they completed with four wickets in hand. En route, Kohli also became the fastest batter to reach 16,000 List A runs, surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
Rohit Sharma’s Blitzkrieg for Mumbai
At the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, Rohit Sharma treated a packed crowd to a vintage display of power-hitting. Chasing Sikkim’s 237, the Mumbai captain opened the innings and dismantled the bowling attack from the outset. He brought up a quickfire fifty and never relented, unleashing his full repertoire of strokes. He was finally dismissed for a blistering 155, having single-handedly taken the game away from Sikkim. Mumbai cantered to an eight-wicket victory with plenty to spare.
The Karnataka Epic: A Record-Breaking Chase
While Kohli and Rohit stole the limelight, the match of the day arguably took place in another venue. Karnataka pulled off a miraculous and record-breaking chase against Jharkhand. Set a mammoth target of 413, Karnataka’s chase was spearheaded by a brilliant century from opener Devdutt Padikkal. He was ably supported by the middle order, with Abhinav Manohar and Dhruv Prabhakar applying the finishing touches in a breathtaking five-wicket victory. The successful chase of 413 is one of the highest in the tournament’s history, showcasing the ultra-aggressive mindset in modern domestic cricket.
🏆 Select Round 1 Results (Elite)
| Match | Result | Key Performer |
|---|---|---|
| Mumbai vs Sikkim | Mumbai won by 8 wickets | Rohit Sharma – 155 |
| Delhi vs Andhra | Delhi won by 4 wickets | Virat Kohli – 131 |
| Karnataka vs Jharkhand | Karnataka won by 5 wickets | Devdutt Padikkal – Century in 413 chase |
| J&K vs Chandigarh | J&K won by 10 wickets | Dominant all-round performance |
| Kerala vs Tripura | Kerala won by 145 runs | B. Aparajith – 5 wickets |
| Saurashtra vs Odisha | Saurashtra won by 5 wickets | Gajjar Sammar – 132* |
Other Notable Performances
Beyond the marquee names, the opening round was rich with standout displays:
- Saurashtra’s Gajjar Sammar scored an unbeaten 132 to guide his team to a successful chase of 346 against Odisha.
- Uttar Pradesh’s spin trio of debutant Zeeshan Ansari (4/31), Prashant Veer (3/47), and Vipraj Nigam bowled the team to an 84-run win over Hyderabad after posting 324.
- Kerala’s B. Aparajith bagged a five-wicket haul to help bundle out Tripura and secure a massive 145-run victory.
- Jammu & Kashmir began their campaign with a commanding 10-wicket demolition of Chandigarh.
A Tournament of Staggering Depth
The opening day of the Elite stage served as a powerful reminder of the Vijay Hazare Trophy’s quality. It is a tournament where emerging talents share the field with global superstars, and where records are chased as fiercely as victories. With Kohli and Rohit setting an early benchmark and teams like Karnataka redefining the limits of a run-chase, the 2025-26 edition promises to be one of the most memorable in recent years. The pursuit of the coveted domestic 50-over crown has begun in spectacular fashion.
