Virat Kohli marked his return to domestic cricket with a big knock as Delhi defeated Andhra in the Vijay Hazare Trophy match in Bengaluru on Tuesday. Kohli scored 131 runs off 101 balls, guiding Delhi to a comfortable chase of a stiff target.
Delhi chased 299 runs and reached the target in 37.4 overs. Kohli was the standout performer and stayed at the crease till the end. During his innings, he hit 14 fours and three sixes. The knock also helped him achieve a major career milestone of 16,000 List A runs, becoming one of the few batters to reach the mark.
Delhi got off to a strong start thanks to Priyansh Arya, who played an aggressive innings. He scored 74 off just 44 balls, giving the chase early momentum. Nitish Rana also played a key role with a quick 77 off 55 balls, keeping the required run rate under control.
However, Delhi suffered a brief wobble late in the innings. Captain Rishabh Pant failed to make an impact and was dismissed for 5 runs. A few quick wickets fell, but the target was never under serious threat due to the solid base built earlier.
Earlier, Andhra scored 298 for 8 in their 50 overs after being asked to bat first. Ricky Bhui led the batting effort with a century, anchoring the innings. Andhra kept the scoreboard moving but lost wickets at regular intervals.
For Delhi, Simarjeet Singh was the pick of the bowlers. The pacer claimed five wickets, breaking Andhra’s middle order and stopping them from crossing the 300-run mark.
The match was closely followed as it marked Kohli’s return to domestic cricket. His performance gave Delhi a strong boost in the tournament and drew attention ahead of the knockout stages.
