Virat Kohli sent a loud and clear message to the Indian selectors and stamped his authority as a central figure in India's plans for the 2027 ICC World Cup with his record-breaking century for Delhi against Andhra Pradesh in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26.
The 37-year-old batting maestro sent a clear message about his form, fitness, and hunger as his road to the 2027 ICC World Cup feels stronger than ever. Playing his first domestic 50-over match since 2010, Kohli crafted a blistering 131 off just 101 balls, laced with 12 fours and 3 sixes.
Kohli was dismissed with the team just 26 runs from victory. The former Indian captain’s stunning century was instrumental in Delhi's successful chase of 299 in their Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 opener against Andhra Pradesh at Bengaluru's BCCI Centre of Excellence.
Virat Kohli Enters Elite List with Historic Century for Delhi
In a monumental achievement, Kohli's innings helped him break another of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s records, as he has now become the fastest batter to reach 16,000 runs in List A cricket.
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The dashing right-handed batter reached the milestone in his 330th innings, while Tendulkar had taken 391 innings to reach 16,000 runs in List A cricket. This feat highlights the Delhi lad’s unmatched consistency in the 50-over format of the game.
Kohli added another major milestone to his career by becoming the ninth player in history to cross 16,000 runs in List-A cricket. Among the 113 batters who have scored over 10,000 runs in the format, Kohli’s average of 57.6 is second only to Michael Bevan’s 57.86.
Only AB de Villiers and MS Dhoni also average above 50 on this elite list. Additionally, the former Indian captain has now smashed 58 List-A centuries, further strengthening his place among the greatest one-day batters of all time.
Virat Kohli's Masterclass in the Chase
Chasing a stiff target of 299, Kohli took charge almost immediately after walking in to bat in the very first over following Arpit Rana’s two-ball duck. He stabilized the innings before unleashing his trademark aggressive chase mastery against Andhra Pradesh.
He built two crucial century stands in the VHT clash:
- A 113-run partnership with the Delhi opener Priyansh Arya (74 runs off 44 balls) for the second wicket.
- A devastating 160-run stand with Nitish Rana (77 runs off 55 balls) for the third wicket, which sealed the game for Delhi.
World Cup 2027: Rajkumar Sharma confirms batter's participation
Having retired from Test and T20I cricket, Virat Kohli's sole focus is ODIs and the 2027 ICC World Cup. This Vijay Hazare appearance was a direct audition for the selection, and Kohli’s childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma, left no doubt about his readiness for the mega event.
There were speculations over Kohli’s place in India’s 2027 World Cup plans, but the way he has been batting, the selectors won't be able to ignore the former captain. However, Kohli must continue his sublime form since the tournament is still two years away.
Rajkumar Sharma was quoted as saying by ANI, “He is in brilliant form. He batted very well and ensured Delhi’s victory. He played domestic cricket after a long time but still performed exceptionally well. He is the most consistent player in the Indian team and is fully ready for the World Cup.”
#WATCH | Rajkot, Gujarat | On Virat Kohli's return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Delhi and scoring a century against Andhra Pradesh, Virat Kohli's childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma says, "He is in brilliant form. He batted very well and ensured Delhi’s victory. He played domestic… pic.twitter.com/XXkY1nsaBr
— ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2025
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