The Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 has suddenly found itself back in the spotlight, thanks to the presence of two of Indian cricket’s biggest names. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have made themselves available for the premier domestic 50-over tournament as part of their preparation for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand, giving the competition a massive boost in profile and intensity.
While the return of the former captains has excited fans and selectors alike, there’s one notable absentee. Jasprit Bumrah, India’s pace-bowling spearhead, will not feature in the Vijay Hazare Trophy as his workload continues to be carefully managed.
“Bumrah will not feature in VHT as he is taking rest,” Gujarat Cricket Association secretary Anil Patel told The Times of India, confirming the decision.
Will Bumrah play the New Zealand ODIs?
Bumrah’s absence from the domestic circuit raises questions about his availability for the ODI series against New Zealand. The fast bowler recently played in the five-match T20I series against South Africa but was rested for the subsequent three-ODI series. With India yet to announce their ODI squad for the New Zealand series, there’s a strong possibility Bumrah could be rested from the format once again.
That decision may be influenced by the nature of New Zealand’s ODI squad. On December 23, the Kiwis named a second-string side, led by Michael Bracewell, for the 50-over series. Several senior New Zealand players are tied up with T20 franchise commitments, and New Zealand Cricket has allowed them to skip the ODIs as part of long-term planning for the T20 World Cup 2026.
When will Bumrah return?
What’s certain is that Bumrah won’t be away from the action for long. He’s set to return for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which begins on January 21 and runs through January 31. That series will give him competitive match time while still allowing his workload to be monitored closely.
With the T20Is wrapping up at the end of January, Bumrah will also get sufficient recovery time ahead of India’s next major assignment. India, one of the co-hosts of the T20 World Cup, begin their campaign on February 7 against the USA at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
For now, the focus remains on smart rotation rather than rushing India’s most valuable fast bowler back into action. And with Kohli and Rohit headlining the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Indian cricket still has plenty of star power on display.
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