Vijay Hazare Trophy LIVE: Kohli matches Rohit, scores his 58th List-A ton against Andhra

Virat Kohli made a stunning return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring his 58th List-A century came after a 15-year absence from the tournament against Andhra Pradesh.

Kohli scored his 58th List-A ton against Andhra. Image | X

Virat Kohli rolled back the years with a masterful unbeaten century on his long-awaited return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy, guiding Delhi to a commanding position in their Group D clash against Andhra Pradesh at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1.

Kohli scored his 58th List-A ton

After a 15-year hiatus from India's premier domestic 50-over competition, Kohli walked in at No. 3 following an early setback and produced a vintage display of chase mastery.

His unbeaten 118 off 94 balls (still batting as we write the report), laced with 12 fours and three sixes, formed the backbone of Delhi's pursuit of 299, leaving them needing just 54 runs for victory with eight wickets in hand at the 30-over mark.

Delhi captain Rishabh Pant won the toss and elected to bowl first, a decision that initially paid dividends as the visitors restricted Andhra to a slow start. Pace duo Ishant Sharma and Navdeep Saini set the tone with disciplined lines, while Simarjeet Singh emerged as the standout bowler, claiming a superb five-wicket haul (5-54) to derail Andhra's momentum.

Read also: World record smashed: 14-year-old's 190 leads Bihar to insane 574/6 in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26

Ricky Bhui scored a ton for Andhra

Andhra's innings was propped up by Ricky Bhui's brilliant 122 off 105 balls, which included 11 fours and seven sixes. The right-hander anchored the middle order after early losses, adding crucial partnerships to lift his side from a precarious position.

Support came from Maramreddy Hemanth Reddy (27) and Singupuram Prasad (28), but Simarjeet's late strikes, combined with Prince Yadav's three wickets, ensured Andhra were bowled out for 298-8 in their 50 overs, a total that appeared competitive but proved inadequate against Kohli's class.

Read also: Vijay Hazare Trophy LIVE: ‘Hitman’ Rohit Sharma fires with 62-ball ton, scores his 37th List-A ton

Priyansh Arya scored 74 off 44 balls

Delhi's reply began shakily when Arpit Rana fell for a duck in the first over, caught behind off captain Nitish Kumar Reddy. However, Priyansh Arya launched a ferocious counter-attack, blazing 74 off just 44 balls with seven fours and five sixes. His 113-run second-wicket stand with Kohli injected momentum into the innings, punishing loose deliveries and keeping the required rate well under control.

Arya departed in the 13th over, caught off substitute fielder Yara Sandeep, but Kohli seamlessly shifted gears. The former India skipper reached his half-century off 39 balls before accelerating to his century, his 58th in List A cricket, in typical fashion.

An unbeaten 131-run partnership with Nitish Rana (51* off 40 balls, including six fours and a six) has all but sealed the deal for Delhi, with the run rate hovering around 8.17.

Kohli's knock was a reminder of why he is regarded as one of the greatest chasers in limited-overs cricket. Mixing elegant drives with powerful pulls and lofted covers, he toyed with the Andhra bowlers, who struggled for answers on a batting-friendly surface. Tripurana Vijay was the most expensive, conceding 62 runs in his six overs, while Reddy went for 49 in five.

Share