BCCI Asks Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to Prove Match Fitness in Domestic Cricket; Rohit Confirms Participation
As speculation around their ODI futures intensifies, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly instructed senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to participate in domestic tournaments if they wish to remain in contention for national selection. With both having retired from Tests and T20Is, their match readiness for the 50-over format has become a central topic of discussion ahead of India’s upcoming ODI series against South Africa.
According to a report by The Indian Express, Rohit has already informed the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) of his availability for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, while Kohli’s participation remains uncertain. “The board and team management have conveyed to both players that participation in domestic cricket is mandatory if they want to play for India. Since they’ve retired from two formats, they must maintain match fitness through domestic competition,” BCCI sources told The Indian Express.
Rohit Shows Intent, Kohli Yet to Confirm
Demonstrating his commitment, Rohit has reportedly gone a step further by expressing interest in joining Mumbai’s squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, which begins on November 26. Kohli, meanwhile, is yet to communicate his decision regarding his involvement in the forthcoming one-day competition, which commences on December 24.
This directive from the BCCI echoes similar instructions issued after India’s poor performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. On that occasion, both players made brief Ranji Trophy appearances to regain form before retiring from longer formats ahead of the England tour.
Agarkar Reiterates Domestic Cricket’s Importance
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar has consistently emphasised the importance of playing domestic cricket to stay competitive. “We made it clear that whenever players are available, they should feature in domestic tournaments. That’s the only way to remain sharp during breaks,” Agarkar said earlier, stressing that the practice keeps players “match-hardened.”
Both Rohit and Kohli returned to the national side for the first time since the ICC Champions Trophy, featuring in a three-match ODI series against Australia earlier this year. Rohit shone with a fifty and a century, earning the Player of the Match recognition, while Kohli found rhythm in the final game, scoring 74 runs in a dead rubber.
The BCCI now expects a similar level of commitment from both as it prepares to form the core of India’s squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup.