Virat Kohli Commits to Third VHT Match Against Railways to Finalize New Zealand ODI Preparation
Virat Kohli has confirmed his commitment to playing a third match in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) for Delhi, extending his preparation ahead of the upcoming home ODI series against New Zealand. Although the BCCI mandates centrally contracted players feature in at least two domestic matches, Kohli has opted for an additional fixture against Railways on January 6, 2026.
This decision underscores Kohli's focus on maximizing his match fitness and form in the 50-over format. The star batsman has been in exceptional touch since returning to the VHT after 15 years, registering scores of 131 and 77 in his first two appearances. These outings, featuring aggressive boundary hitting, have significantly raised expectations for his performance in the international series starting January 11.
“While the BCCI has mandated centrally contracted players to feature in at least two matches, Virat Kohli has opted to play a third game as part of his preparation for the upcoming home series against New Zealand.”
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Related Statistics
IPL 2025 Leading Run Scorers Leaders | Batting Rankings
Leading leading run scorers scorers in IPL 2025 (batting specialists only: batters/all-rounders/wicketkeepers)
| Rank | Player | Team | run-scorers |
|---|---|---|---|
#1 | Gujarat Titans | 759 runs | |
#2 | Mumbai Indians | 717 runs | |
| #3 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 657 runs | |
| #4 | Gujarat Titans | 650 runs | |
| #5 | Punjab Kings | 604 runs |
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“While the BCCI has mandated centrally contracted players to feature in at least two matches, Virat Kohli has opted to play a third game as part of his preparation for the upcoming home series against New Zealand.”
Unnamed analysis from source
- Player
- Virat Kohli
- Specialization
- Batter
- Team
- RCB
- Analyze
- Analyze Performance
- Team
- Team Performance