(Image source from: Ap7am.com)
As talks increase about the future of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in One Day Internationals, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly required both experienced players to take part in domestic cricket to be in consideration for the national team. After stepping back from Test and T20 formats, Rohit and Kohli are still participating only in the 50-over format. Therefore, their physical readiness for selection has become a hot topic. With the upcoming selection for the South Africa ODI series, discussions about their potential involvement in the Vijay Hazare Trophy have picked up. A report from the Indian Express mentions that Rohit has already notified the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) of his willingness to participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. On the other hand, Kohli has yet to confirm if he will be available for the domestic one-day event.
"The board and team management have informed both players that they need to engage in domestic cricket if they wish to represent India. Since they have both retired from two formats, engaging in domestic cricket is essential for maintaining their match fitness," sources from BCCI said. Previously, when a similar notice was given by the BCCI following India's poor performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, both Kohli and Rohit returned to play the Ranji Trophy, appearing in one match each. Although both later decided to retire before the squad was named for the England tour, a similar commitment is expected from them if they wish to compete for a spot in India's ODI World Cup team for 2027. Rohit's level of commitment is evident, as he has told the MCA that he could also play in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, which is set to begin on November 26.
Recently, Ajit Agarkar, the head of the BCCI selection committee, emphasized how crucial domestic cricket is for players aiming for selection in the national squad. "We clearly stated a year or two ago that players need to play domestic cricket whenever they are available. That’s the only way to stay sharp and maintain your game when you've had a long break. Whether players can manage that with their international commitments is uncertain, but if they have the time, they should compete in domestic cricket," he noted on the topic.
The two players returned to the national team for the first time since the end of the ICC Champions Trophy during a three-match ODI series against Australia. In that series, Rohit was named player of the match, hitting one fifty and a century. Meanwhile, Kohli only showcased his abilities in the last match of the series, which had no significance, scoring 74 runs. The Vijay Hazare Trophy for 2025-25 will begin on December 24.
