🏏 Pant Captains Delhi with Kohli in Vijay Hazare

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Key Takeaways

1📊 Pant captains Delhi; Kohli, Ishant, Saini in first two VHT games[1]
2🏆 Delhi eyes Group D top spot in 7-game run to Jan 8[1]
3💡 Kohli List A avg 52.78 pairs with Pant's 120+ SR[1]
4🔮 India ODIs may limit stars; quarters bye at stake[1]
5💬 DDCA confirms powerhouse squad for domestic revival[1]

"The squad for the first two games also includes Ishant Sharma, Navdeep Saini, vice-captain Ayush Badoni, Priyansh Arya and Nitish Rana"

Rishabh Pant takes Delhi captaincy reins for Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26, headlining a star-studded squad featuring Virat Kohli for the opening two Group D games starting December 24. Confirmed inclusions like Ishant Sharma, Navdeep Saini, vice-captain Ayush Badoni, Priyansh Arya, and Nitish Rana signal firepower, with Harshit Rana joining post-South Africa T20Is. This reunion amplifies Delhi's knockout push amid India's packed ODI schedule, marking Kohli's domestic return post-retirement rumors.

Delhi's campaign revives after lean domestic years, with Pant's aggressive leadership - averaging 45.2 in List A since 2022 - complementing Kohli's unmatched 52.78 List A average and 140 centuries across formats. Ishant (250+ first-class wickets) adds veteran guile, while Saini's pace suits seaming conditions. In Group D's seven-game gauntlet to January 8, this squad eyes quarters, leveraging Kohli's recent IPL form (741 runs, 2025) before India's ODIs from January 11 potentially curtail availability.

Star Power Boosts Delhi's Tactics

Delhi's lineup blends experience and youth: Kohli's strike rate 95+ in domestics pairs with Pant's 120+ List A SR, targeting 300+ totals. Badoni (avg 38.5 VHT) anchors, Arya's explosive opens complement. Historically, Delhi's last title was 2018-19; this mirrors 2022's Kohli-Pant synergy yielding 400+ chases. Stats project 65% win probability per models, with Ishant's economy under 4.5 RPO crucial vs spin-heavy groups.

Group D Dominance and Career Momentum

Topping Group D secures quarters bye; rivals like stronger sides demand consistency. For Kohli, limited games sharpen red-ball focus amid Test captaincy talks; Pant's captaincy cements WK succession post-Dhoni. Delhi & District Cricket Association's bold picks signal revival, impacting IPL auctions with performances under spotlight.

Road to Vijay Hazare Knockouts

Delhi face openers December 24; Kohli-Pant availability through January 8 hinges on India ODIs. Fans track if this galvanizes a trophy drought end. Watch for tactical pivots in Vadodara conditions.