Former India captain Virat Kohli marked a memorable return to domestic cricket with a magnificent century, guiding Delhi to a four-wicket win over Andhra Pradesh in their Vijay Hazare Trophy clash in Bengaluru.
Kohli smashed a brilliant 131 off 101 balls, playing the anchor’s role in Delhi’s successful chase of a challenging 299-run target.
Chasing 299, Delhi completed the task in just 37.4 overs, thanks largely to Kohli’s masterclass. The right-hander struck 14 boundaries and three sixes, showing complete control and aggression throughout his innings.
The knock also helped Kohli achieve a major personal milestone, as he became only the second Indian to complete 16,000 List A runs, further underlining his longevity and consistency in the format.
Delhi got off to a strong start despite an early setback. Andhra’s all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy dismissed Arpit Rana for a duck in the very first over. However, Kohli found solid support in opener Priyansh Arya, who played a fearless knock of 74 off just 44 balls.
The duo put Andhra’s bowlers under pressure during the powerplay, setting the tone for the chase.
After Arya’s dismissal, Nitish Rana continued the momentum with a fluent 77 off 55 balls, ensuring Delhi stayed well ahead of the required run rate.
Although skipper Rishabh Pant had a rare failure and managed only five runs, Delhi never lost control of the chase, with Kohli batting deep and steering the team home.
Earlier in the match, Rishabh Pant won the toss and elected to bowl first. Delhi’s pace attack, led by Simarjeet Singh, made early inroads and built pressure on Andhra’s top order.
Openers KS Bharat and Ashwin Hebbar were dismissed cheaply, but Ricky Bhui held the innings together with a superb century.
Bhui’s impressive 122-run knock was the highlight of Andhra Pradesh’s innings, helping them post a competitive 298/8 in 50 overs. He received limited support from the middle order, as Delhi’s bowlers struck at regular intervals.
Simarjeet Singh was the standout performer with the ball, finishing with an excellent five-wicket haul, while Prince Yadav chipped in with three wickets to keep Andhra in check.
Despite Andhra’s strong total, Delhi’s batting depth and experience proved decisive. Kohli’s presence at the crease brought calmness and assurance, allowing the batters around him to play freely.
His ability to rotate the strike, find gaps, and accelerate when required highlighted why he remains high in the world cricket rankings.
