Rishabh Pant has been appointed captain of Delhi for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025, which begins on December 24. The Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) confirmed the 20-member squad for the first two matches, with Virat Kohli also named, as reported earlier. The announcement has generated major buzz, with several senior India players making themselves available for the domestic tournament.
Seamers Ishant Sharma and Navdeep Saini have confirmed their availability for the initial phase, while Harshit Rana will join the team once free from national duties. Rana is currently part of India’s T20I squad for the South Africa series, which concludes on Friday.
Delhi’s Schedule, Player Availability and Leadership Group
Delhi are placed in Group D and will play seven matches between December 24 and January 8. However, the availability of Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli for all games remains uncertain, as India’s three-match ODI series begins on January 11 in Vadodara.
Delhi will kick off their campaign with two matches against Andhra and Gujarat, both scheduled at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Ayush Badoni has been named vice-captain, highlighting the team management’s trust in his leadership potential. Tejasvi Dahiya will serve as the primary backup wicketkeeper, while Anuj Rawat has been included as a standby option in case Pant is unavailable.
Delhi Squad Composition: Batting Depth and Bowling Options
Delhi’s squad features a strong mix of experience and youth. The batting line-up includes Yash Dhull, Priyansh Arya, Arpit Rana, Nitish Rana, Sarthak Ranjan, Divij Mehra and Ayush Doseja, offering both stability and attacking options at the top and middle order.
On the bowling front, the pace attack is led by Ishant Sharma, Navdeep Saini, Simarjeet Singh and Prince Yadav. Spin responsibilities will be handled by Hrithik Shokeen, Harsh Tyagi and Vaibhav Kandpal. Allrounder Rohan Rana adds balance to the side, contributing in both departments.
Delhi squad for the first two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches:
Rishabh Pant (capt), Ayush Badoni (vice-capt), Virat Kohli, Arpit Rana, Yash Dhull, Sarthak Ranjan, Priyansh Arya, Tejasvi Singh (wk), Nitish Rana, Hrithik Shokeen, Harsh Tyagi, Simarjeet Singh, Prince Yadav, Divij Mehra, Ayush Doseja, Vaibhav Kandpal, Rohan Rana, Ishant Sharma, Navdeep Saini.
Standby wicketkeeper: Anuj Rawat.
With Pant leading the side and Kohli returning to domestic cricket, Delhi will be aiming for a strong start in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and a deep run in the tournament.
