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The Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 is set to begin on Wednesday, December 24, and will run until January 18. Several high-profile names, including former India captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, will feature in the opening rounds of the tournament.
Alongside them, regular India internationals KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, as well as Test and ODI skipper Shubman Gill, will also be in action after missing the final two matches of the South Africa series due to injury.
A total of 38 teams are competing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26, arranged into four Elite groups consisting of eight teams each, along with a six-team Plate group. Following the round-robin league phase, the top two sides from every Elite group move on to the quarter-finals, which are followed by the semi-finals and the final.
While the Vijay Hazare Trophy offers young players a valuable platform to showcase their talent, it also allows senior professionals to fine-tune their skills. At the same time, it presents fringe players with a golden opportunity to impress selectors and push for a permanent spot in the national setup.
On that note, here are five fringe Indian players to watch out for in the initial rounds of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26.
#1 Rinku Singh
The first on the list is Uttar Pradesh batter Rinku Singh. Since making his T20I debut in August 2023, the left-hander has remained in and around the Indian setup, featuring in some series while missing out on others. He was widely expected to be part of India’s squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup but eventually missed selection and was named as a substitute.
In 2025, Rinku was included in India’s Asia Cup squad but managed just one appearance, which came in the final against Pakistan. He faced only a single delivery and made it count by hitting the winning runs.
Rinku was also part of the T20I series against Australia; however, he was left out of the recently concluded five-match home T20I series against South Africa. Despite that omission, the 28-year-old has been named in India’s 15-member squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup, set to begin on February 7.
Heading into the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26, Rinku will be aiming to produce strong performances and secure a permanent place in the playing XI ahead of the New Zealand series and the World Cup.
#2 Shardul Thakur
Second on the list is veteran all-rounder Shardul Thakur, who is set to lead Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26. The 34-year-old has not played any white-ball cricket for India in over two years, though he featured in the 2025 away Test series against England before being dropped.
Thakur is known for his knack for taking crucial wickets and contributing valuable runs lower down the order. With India still searching for a reliable seam-bowling all-rounder apart from Hardik Pandya, he has a golden opportunity to showcase his form and push for a return to the national side.
Looking at his List A record, the Mumbai cricketer has played 118 matches, taking 180 wickets at an average of 27.93, a strike rate of 28.8, and an economy of 5.80, with best figures of 4/19. With the bat, he has scored 998 runs at an average of 19.96 and a strike rate of 112.26, including four fifties.
#3 Ruturaj Gaikwad
Next on the list is Maharashtra’s Ruturaj Gaikwad, who is set to lead the side in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26. The 28-year-old recently got an opportunity in the absence of injured vice-captain Shreyas Iyer during the ODI series against South Africa. While he was dismissed for eight in the first game, Gaikwad made the most of his chance in the second match, scoring his maiden ODI hundred.
Since making his international debut in 2021, the Maharashtra batter has featured in just 32 matches across India’s white-ball formats and has been on the fringes of cementing a permanent spot. With no clear timeline for Iyer’s return, Gaikwad will be a player to watch in the initial rounds of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26, as he looks to continue his fine form and strengthen his case for selection in India’s upcoming ODI series against New Zealand.
#4 Nitish Kumar Reddy
Still only 22, Andhra all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has already made his debut for India across formats and is regarded as a promising young talent with the potential to become a key all-rounder for the team. However, a combination of injuries, inconsistent performances, and an unclear role in the side has meant he has often been on the fringes, alternating between playing and being benched.
The young all-rounder will be eager to make an impact in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 and showcase his potential in List A cricket. In 26 matches so far, he has scored 467 runs, including four fifties, and taken 15 wickets. With the 2027 ODI World Cup in mind, strong performances in the tournament could help him cement a regular spot in India’s plans.
#5 Devdutt Padikkal
The final player on the list is Karnataka batter Devdutt Padikkal. The left-hander has remained on the fringes of the national side despite his consistent performances in domestic cricket. While he has largely been in contention for red-ball formats, he hasn’t played an international game in over a year, although he was part of the squad for the recent South Africa Test series, where he remained on the bench.
The Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 offers the 25-year-old an ideal platform to make an impact and emerge as a player to watch in the early rounds, as he aims to secure a place in the Indian team. In List A cricket, Padikkal has played 33 matches, amassing 2,071 runs at an outstanding average of 79.65 and a strike rate of 90.79, including 12 fifties and nine centuries.
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Edited by Dev Sharma
English (US)