The opening day of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 was a spectacle only modern greats can provide, as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli reminded everyone of their class by slamming commanding centuries for Mumbai and Delhi, respectively, on December 24.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s performances did more than just win matches for their respective teams; but they brought experience, confidence, and inspiration into the domestic circuit. This masterclass drew rich praise from Harbhajan Singh, who highlighted their immense value to the domestic circuit.
Harbhajan said that seeing modern-era legends like Virat Kohli and Rohit play domestic cricket is a big boost for young players. He felt that sharing the dressing room with such experienced cricketers helps youngsters learn and gain confidence and adds great value to domestic tournaments.
Read Also: Virat Kohli’s 2027 World Cup dream over? Childhood coach gives official update
Harbhajan Singh said in a video on his YouTube channel, “It’s good to see, really good to see, that big players are also turning up for tournaments like these. When you go and play alongside domestic players, obviously it boosts their confidence as well. Kohli going into Delhi’s dressing room is obviously a big, big learning experience for all those kids sitting there.
It’s a huge lesson for them to see what Kohli does. Similarly, Rohit Sharma has gone into Mumbai’s dressing room. Although Mumbai has always been a very big team and has won a lot, I still feel that Kohli playing and Rohit playing are, in themselves, very big things.”
Rohit Sharma played a breathtaking innings against Sikkim in Mumbai’s opening match in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26. He smashed 155 runs from just 94 balls, hitting 18 boundaries and 9 sixes.
The former Indian captain’s stunning knock cruised Mumbai to an eight-wicket victory over Sikkim. His dominant knock earned him the Player of the Match award and gave a perfect start to Mumbai’s VHT campaign.
Score: 155 runs
Balls: 94
Fours/Sixes: 18/9
Strike Rate: 164.89
Kohli showcased why he remains the ultimate chase master. The former Indian captain walked in at 55/1 and delivered a stunning knock for Delhi against Andhra Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 clash in Bengaluru.
Chasing a tricky target of 299, he smashed 50 off 47 balls and then paced up his innings and smashed the next 81 runs off just 54 balls. Kohli held the innings together with a fluent 131 off 101 balls. His stunning knock helped Delhi secure a four-wicket win over Andhra Pradesh.
Score: 131 runs
Balls: 101
Fours/Sixes: 14/3
Strike Rate: 129.70
Read Also: Rohit Sharma faces ‘vada pav’ sledging during Vijay Hazare Trophy comeback; video breaks the internet
Meanwhile, Harbhajan Singh felt that Rohit and Kohli scoring centuries is a very positive sign for India, keeping in mind the upcoming 2017 World Cup. He stressed that domestic matches are real contests, not practice sessions, and making hundreds in such conditions matters a lot.
Harbhajan signed off by saying, “This isn’t net practice. Scoring a hundred here is a big deal in itself. It becomes a habit, a good habit. When you know how to score runs, when you know how to make hundreds, that’s a good habit to have. It doesn’t matter whether you are playing domestic cricket, international cricket, or even fewer matches, because that same thing is what you carry forward. And for them today, this is a really big thing.”
