Rishabh Pant to Lead Delhi in Vijay Hazare Trophy; Virat Kohli to Feature in Select Matches

India’s Test vice-captain Rishabh Pant has been appointed captain of the Delhi cricket team for the upcoming National One-Day Championship in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, starting December 24, 2025. Veteran star Virat Kohli is also expected to play in a few matches, adding experience and star power to the squad.

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Squad Composition and Leadership

While Pant will captain the team, his availability is limited due to India’s ODI series against New Zealand, starting January 11, 2026. Consequently, Ayush Badoni has been named vice-captain and will assume leadership duties once Pant departs for national duty. Badoni will also serve as Delhi’s second wicketkeeper, complementing Pant’s role in the national team.

The official 16-member Delhi squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy is:

• Vice-captain: Ayush Badoni

• Players: Arpit Rana, Yash Dhull, Sarthak Ranjan, Priyansh Arya, Tejasvi Singh Dahiya, Nitish Rana, Hrithik Shokeen, Harsh Tyagi, Simarjeet Singh, Prince Yadav, Divij Mehra, Ayush Doseja, Vaibhav Kandpal, Rohan Rana, Anuj Rawat (wk)

Additional players expected to feature selectively include: Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Navdeep Saini, Harshit Rana, and Ishant Sharma. Their participation will likely be restricted to two or three matches before national commitments.

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Veteran Presence Boost

Delhi’s squad also features seasoned pacers Ishant Sharma and Navdeep Saini, along with rising star Harshit Rana, offering a blend of experience and youth. The presence of Kohli and Pant, even for a limited number of matches, is expected to provide invaluable mentorship to younger players.

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Key Takeaways

• Rishabh Pant: Captain of Delhi for Vijay Hazare Trophy; limited availability due to India ODIs

• Ayush Badoni: Vice-captain and acting captain during Pant’s absence

• Virat Kohli: To feature in selected matches, boosting team experience

• Blend of Youth and Experience: Squad includes emerging talents alongside veterans Ishant Sharma and Navdeep Saini