Virat Kohli will definitely play for Delhi again: DDCA chief Rohan Jaitley

Virat Kohli will return to domestic cricket for Delhi whenever he is available, with DDCA president Rohan Jaitley making it clear that the former India captain remains firmly part of his home association’s plans. Kohli, who now plays only ODI cricket for India, could be in line for another stint with Delhi during the 2026-27 Vijay Hazare Trophy, which begins in December.

Virat Kohli is set to return to action in the three-match ODI series against West Indies from September 27, before travelling to New Zealand for five ODIs in November. India are then scheduled to host Sri Lanka for three ODIs in December, making the timing of Kohli’s domestic availability particularly significant. Kohli played Ranji Trophy for Delhi for the first time after 13 years in 2025, months before announcing retirement from Tests. Later that year, he returned to play two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches for the state.

Rohan Jaitley, speaking on the sidelines of the DDCA’s annual prize distribution ceremony for club cricketers, also discussed Delhi’s grassroots cricket, plans for a new world-class stadium, the rise of women’s cricket and the association’s ambitions of returning to the top of domestic cricket. The DDCA hosted its annual prize distribution ceremony at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday, with the association increasing prize money by 10 per cent across categories and awarding a total of Rs 1.43 crore for the 2025-26 season.

Q: How important is it to recognise and reward grassroots cricket?

Rohan Jaitley: There are about 113 clubs, which is a mixture of institutional clubs and regular clubs. They play close to 1,800 games in a year, with a mixed pool that includes close to 400 women’s cricket games. We have about 1,700 men’s games, which includes an Under-16 pool, Under-19 pool, an open league and also a T20 league.

When we see all this cricket happening through the year, which is an average of about five to seven games every day, you realise that there is a lot of hard work that goes into the identification, execution and implementation of cricket at such levels.

What is happening today is that we distribute close to Rs 1.5 crore in prize money to all those players and clubs that have done exceptionally well — winners, runners-up, outstanding players, players of the tournament and players of the match. It is just a recognition of grassroots-level club cricket, which is actually a feeder to the state team.

Q: You spoke about Delhi producing cricketers and playing in the Ranji Trophy. What kind of initiatives is the DDCA looking at in the coming years, particularly in terms of infrastructure?

Rohan Jaitley: I would say that in the last few years, today we are at a position where we are feeding the maximum number of players to the IPL. There are a good number of players on the women’s side.

Our women’s cricket in the last two years has seen a complete 360. They have started winning tournaments, they have been winners and runners-up, and they are qualifying across every age category. This is all because of the commitment, dedication and hard work that the players are putting in.

You asked about the infrastructure. We are exploring with the BCCI on infrastructure, which should put us in a zone where we should be able to get some land by the end of this year and put up a world-class stadium that would not just cater to the needs of today but also for the next three decades.

Q: Will this be closer to this facility?

Rohan Jaitley: That’s a process that’s ongoing, and the identification exercise is ongoing with the different concerned departments. It certainly will not be in the centre of the city, but it will not be very far away, is what I would say.

Q: As the son of one of the legendary politicians and cricket administrators, does that sometimes put pressure, or do you see it as an opportunity and a privilege to work?

Rohan Jaitley: It has both sides. A lot of times, people have a certain expectation, which may be realistic or an unrealistic expectation, to which I really don’t have an answer.

Look, it also has a side where a lot of direction is already there in my mind on what paths to carry forward and how to take forward at least the cricket administration that I’m involved in today, or the legal practice that I’m involved in, or on the political side — as to how to go forward and on what trajectory to continue.

Q: Are we going to see Delhi becoming a powerhouse in the Ranji Trophy and other domestic tournaments again? What are the steps that will be taken for that?

Rohan Jaitley: We’ve been progressively working on a plan over the last three years. Before I stepped into the administration, there were a lot of struggles that were going on.

I would say Rome didn’t become Rome overnight. So what we are trying to do here is put an action plan in place, which is showing its results when we see players performing.

When we see someone like Sanat Sangwan doing 900-plus runs or Ayush Sijja doing 800-plus runs and playing actively well in the Ranji Trophy, it’s something good that we’re doing on the red-ball side.

I am sure we will see the colour of silver very soon for the state.

Q: Will we see Virat Kohli in domestic cricket this season? Will the DDCA be open to having him?

Rohan Jaitley: This is his home association. There is no question of us being open. This state is as much his as it belongs to me.

And his commitment to play for the state is impeccable. Whenever available, keeping his international commitments and workload management in mind, he definitely and certainly will play for the state again.- EndsPublished By: Amar PanickerPublished On: Sep 11, 2026 16:28 IST