Batting icons Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, along with teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, will not feature in their respective teams’ third group-stage matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Monday, December 29. Each absence, however, comes with a different reason—and none are injury-related.
Kohli and Rohit’s Short Domestic Stint Ends Early
Both Kohli and Rohit were slotted for limited appearances in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy season. Rohit was named in Mumbai’s squad only for the opening two matches, making him unavailable for the Elite Group C clash against Chhattisgarh at the Jaipuria Vidyalaya Ground in Jaipur.
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Kohli, meanwhile, has already left Delhi’s camp after completing his planned two-match run. He was spotted in Mumbai over the weekend and will miss Delhi’s Elite Group D fixture against Saurashtra at the KSCA Cricket (2) Ground in Alur. With Kohli absent, Rishabh Pant is expected to take charge of the Delhi side.
Big Miss for Delhi After Kohli’s Red-Hot Form
Kohli’s absence will be felt keenly by Delhi, especially given his outstanding form. He began the tournament with a superb 131 off 101 balls in a successful 299-run chase, followed by a fluent 77 off 61 balls against Gujarat, earning the Player of the Match award.
In his place, former India U19 World Cup-winning captain Yash Dhull is likely to slot in at No. 3 for Delhi against Saurashtra.
Rohit’s Mixed Outing for Mumbai
Rohit’s brief domestic return had its highs and lows. He smashed a blistering 155 off just 94 balls against Sikkim but was dismissed for a golden duck in Mumbai’s next game against Uttarakhand at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
With Rohit stepping aside, Mumbai could bring in Yashasvi Jaiswal from December 29 onwards, fitness permitting. The left-hander, who turns 24 on Sunday, is expected to open the innings.
Why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Is Also Missing Out
Apart from the senior stars, Bihar will also be without 14-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for the remainder of the tournament. Fresh off a jaw-dropping 190 off 84 balls against Arunachal Pradesh in a Plate Group match, Sooryavanshi has been named in India’s U19 World Cup squad.
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He will join the India U19 camp ahead of a three-match youth ODI series in South Africa, starting January 3, 2026, in Benoni. With Ayush Mhatre and Vihaan Malhotra sidelined due to wrist injuries, Sooryavanshi is set to captain the Indian U19 side in the series.
The Bigger Picture
While fans won’t see Kohli, Rohit or Sooryavanshi in action on Monday, their absences are part of a larger, planned roadmap—balancing workload, future commitments, and international duties. For domestic teams, it’s a chance to test bench strength; for Indian cricket, it’s about managing stars and nurturing the next generation.
