BENGALURU, Dec 24: Virat Kohli marked his return to domestic cricket with a majestic 131-run knock, achieving the historic milestone of 16,000 List A runs as Delhi chased down Andhra’s 299 with authority in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
The Indian superstar smashed 131 off 101 deliveries, studded with 14 boundaries and three sixes, becoming the first player to reach 16,000 runs in List A cricket. Delhi successfully chased the 299-run target in just 37.4 overs, showcasing aggressive batting throughout the innings. This marked Kohli’s first Vijay Hazare Trophy appearance in 15 years, making the achievement even more momentous.
Opening batsman Priyansh Arya provided a blistering start with a 44-ball 74, setting the platform for Delhi’s successful run chase. Nitish Rana contributed a rapid 77 off 55 balls, maintaining the aggressive momentum. However, captain Rishabh Pant endured a rare failure, managing only 5 runs as Delhi suffered a late mini-collapse before ultimately securing victory by 4 wickets.
Earlier, Andhra posted a competitive 298/8 in their 50 overs after Delhi captain Pant elected to field. Ricky Bhui was the standout performer for Andhra, smashing a century to anchor the innings. Delhi pacer Simarjeet Singh was the pick of the bowlers, claiming an impressive five-wicket haul to restrict Andhra’s scoring.
Kohli’s achievement of 16,000 List A runs places him in an exclusive club, with no other player having reached this landmark in cricket history. The knock demonstrated the former India captain’s enduring class and ability to dominate at any level, silencing critics questioning his recent form after BCCI’s mandate requiring centrally contracted players to participate in domestic cricket.
