The opening round of the Vijay Hazare Trophy saw Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma both scoring centuries, marking their
return to domestic cricket after significant gaps. However, the occasion was marred by the inability of many fans to
watch the innings live, and subsequent criticism of the broadcast quality of the available footage.
Rohit Sharma, playing in the tournament after a seven-year absence, scored 155 off 94 balls against Sikkim in Jaipur.
This innings was pivotal in Mumbai's chase of Sikkim's 236-run target. Sharma's innings included a series of boundaries
that accelerated the scoring rate and eased the pressure on the batting side. This century was his 37th in List A
cricket, adding to his 33 international centuries for India, and brings him closer to 14,000 runs in the 50-over format.
Virat Kohli, returning to the Vijay Hazare Trophy after 15 years, scored 131 off 101 balls against Andhra Pradesh at the
BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. His century was instrumental in Delhi's chase of a 299-run target. This
innings marked his 58th List A century and his third century in four innings, including his recent performances in the
South Africa series. Kohli's innings demonstrated his ability to maintain a high scoring rate while anchoring the chase.
The BCCI's decision to only telecast two matches from the opening round meant that fans were unable to watch either
Kohli or Sharma's innings live. Furthermore, the video highlights released by the BCCI were met with criticism due to
their poor quality. This led to expressions of disappointment from fans, who felt that the footage did not adequately
capture the performances of the two experienced batsmen.
Despite the broadcasting issues, the centuries scored by Kohli and Sharma highlight their continued ability to perform
at a high level. Their performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy could be seen as preparation for upcoming international
assignments, demonstrating their form and readiness for higher-pressure matches. For Kohli, this was his third century
in four innings, indicating a consistent run of high scores. Similarly, for Sharma, the innings displayed his ability to
dominate against weaker bowling attacks, translating his international experience to the domestic level.