If Virat Kohli wants to play Vijay Hazare Trophy, I would like to have him: Vijay Dahiya

NEW DELHI: Delhi coach Vijay Dahiya has said he would be happy to have Virat Kohli in the dressing room if the senior Indian batsman wants to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy, which is scheduled to begin on December 14.“If he wants to play, I would like to have him in this dressing room. I would like to have him there just to talk to the boys. I will not let him go home. I will sit him in the dressing room and tell the boys about his journey, hard work, ethics and honor to play for the country,” Dahiya told reporters at the Air Force Complex Ground in Palam.“I have seen him in all phases. I can tell guys where he started and where he is today. There is a path. You may not become Virat, but you can become somebody if you do certain things right.”The Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Services ended in a draw, with Delhi walking away with three points after taking a first innings lead.Kohli played two matches for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy last season, scoring 131 and 77 against Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat respectively.Kohli, who turned 38 on Thursday and now plays only one format, is expected to feature in India’s three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka on December 13, 16 and 19. He will miss Delhi’s first three matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy against Goa, Punjab and Rajasthan but could join the squad for the December 21 encounter against Chandigarh.Dahiya, who has witnessed Kohli’s growth since his junior days, also recounted an interaction with Delhi opener Priyansh Arya after he was dismissed on Day 4 of the Ranji Trophy match against Services.Delhi were set a target of 320 runs in 56 overs with Arya caught at deep square leg off the bowling of Jayant Goyat.

Vijay Dahiya (Image: X)

“He asked me, ‘If Virat was there, how would he chase this whole thing?’ We worked it out and discussed how he would approach the pursuit,” said Dahiya.“That’s why I said I’d like to have him there. He was there last season. I’d like to have him there just to talk to the guys.“I won’t let him go home. I’ll sit him in the locker room and tell the guys step by step about my journey.”“I have seen him in all phases. I can tell them where he was and where he is today. There is a path. You may not become Virat, but you can become somebody if you do certain things in the right way,” said Dahiya.Dahiya also expressed his desire to have Indian veteran Ishant Sharma, who has played 105 Tests, mentor the Red-ball team in Delhi.“Someone who has played 100 Test matches can come back. He should be there as a mentor for red-ball cricket and share his ideas,” he said.Dahiya said Ishant worked hard and remained available for white-ball cricket.“He is working hard right now. I asked him and he said he is bowling really well. So as far as white-ball cricket is concerned, he is definitely available,” said Dahiya, referring to Ishant’s availability for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy.