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 and DDCA president Rohan Jaitley has made it clear that the former India captain remains firmly in his home association’s plans. Kohli, who now only plays 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 traveling to New Zealand for five ODIs in November. India are then scheduled to host Sri Lanka for three ODIs in December, so the timing of Kohli’s domestic availability is particularly significant. Kohli played the Ranji Trophy for Delhi for the first time in 13 years in 2025, months before announcing his retirement from Tests. He returned later that year to play two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches for the state.
Rohan Jaitley, speaking on the sidelines of the DDCA’s annual awards ceremony for club cricketers, also discussed cricket in Delhi, plans for a new world-class stadium, the rise of women’s cricket and the association’s ambitions to return to the top of domestic cricket. The DDCA held its annual awards 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.
Here are excerpts from the interaction:
Q: How important is it to recognize and reward grassroots cricket?
Rohan Jaitley: There are about 113 clubs, a mix of institutional and casual clubs. They play nearly 1,800 games a year, with a mixed pool that includes nearly 400 women’s cricket games. We have about 1700 men’s matches which includes under 16 pool, under 19 pool, open league and also T20 league.
When we see all this cricket happening throughout the year, which averages about five to seven games every day, you realize that there is a lot of hard work involved in identifying, executing and implementing cricket at such levels.
What is happening today is that we are distributing nearly Rs 1.5 crore in rewards to all the players and clubs who have done exceptionally well – winners, runners-up, outstanding players, players of the tournament and players of the match. It is just a recognition of club cricket at the grassroots level, which is actually a feeder for the state team.
Q: You talked about Delhi producing cricketers and playing in the Ranji Trophy. What initiatives is DDCA eyeing in the coming years, especially in terms of infrastructure?
Rohan Jaitley: I would say that in recent years we are in a position today where we are feeding maximum players to the IPL. On the women’s side, there are a good number of players.
Our women’s cricket has seen a complete 360 in the last two years. They have started winning tournaments, been champions and runners-up and qualified across all age groups. All because of the commitment, dedication and hard work the players put in.
You asked about infrastructure. We are looking at the infrastructure with the BCCI that should get us to a zone where we should be able to acquire some land by the end of this year and build a world-class stadium that would not only meet the needs of today but also for the next three decades.
Q: Will it be closer to this device?
Rohan Jaitley: That is the process that is going on and identification is going on with the various departments concerned. It certainly won’t be downtown, but it won’t be too far, I’d say.
Q: As the son of one of the legendary politicians and cricket administrators, does it sometimes create 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 certain expectations that can be realistic or unrealistic that I don’t really have an answer for.
Look, it also has a side where I already have a lot of directions in my head about what paths to take and how to move forward at least in the cricket administration that I’m involved in today, or in the legal practice that I’m involved in, or on the political side – how to move forward and what trajectory to continue on.
Q: Will we see Delhi become a powerhouse again in the Ranji Trophy and other domestic tournaments? What steps will be taken to do so?
Rohan Jaitley: Over the past three years, we have gradually worked on the plan. There was a lot of fighting going on before I joined the administration.
I would say that Rome did not become Rome overnight. So what we are trying to do here is to put in place an action plan that shows its results when we see the performances of the players.
When we see someone like Sanat Sangwan scoring 900+ runs or Ayush Sijja scoring 800+ runs and playing actively well in the Ranji Trophy, it is something good we are doing on the red ball side.
I am sure we will see a silver color very soon for the state.
Q: Will we see Virat Kohli in domestic cricket this season? Will the DDCA be open to its adoption?
Rohan Jaitley: This is his home association. There is no doubt that we are open. This condition is his as well as mine.
And his determination to play for the state is impeccable. Whenever he is available, keeping in mind his international commitments and workload management, he will definitely and surely play for the state again.
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
11 Sep 2026 16:28 IST