If two promising Indian cricketers want to remain in the team, they must endure the challenges of domestic cricket.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have retired from Tests and T20 Internationals but will continue to play One-Day Internationals for India.
The Vijay Hazare Trophy game on December 24 may be the first step, standing as the only one-day match in the domestic calendar between the ODI series against South Africa (December 3-9) and another series against New Zealand (starting January 11), both hosted at home.
Kohli (37) and Rohit (38) last played in the ODI series in Australia, where they formed a successful partnership in the final match. Rohit excelled in two matches, scoring a century in the third, while Kohli rebounded from two ducks to achieve an unbeaten 87.
The board has informed the players that they must participate in domestic cricket to remain eligible for the national team, particularly as they have retired from two formats and need to be match-fit.
Rohit and Kohli announced their retirement from T20Is following the 2024 World Cup and will retire from Test cricket after the 2024-25 tour of Australia. Rohit has indicated he may participate in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament beginning November 26 and has been practicing at the Sharad Pawar indoor academy in Mumbai. The Indian board is also hopeful that Kohli, who resides in London, will play domestic cricket.
Ajit Agarkar, chairman of the selection committee, emphasized the importance of players participating in domestic cricket to maintain their sharpness, especially during breaks from international play. He reiterated that whenever players are available, they should engage in domestic matches to stay competitive.
Rohit and Kohli participated in one Ranji Trophy match each last season, with Kohli representing Delhi after a 12-year absence and Rohit playing for Mumbai after 10 years.
Rohit explained his absence from domestic cricket, stating that since he began regularly playing Test cricket in 2019, the intense international schedule has left little time for rest. He emphasized the importance of taking breaks to refresh and noted that the issue has been addressed and is not taken for granted.
Agarkar remarked that Kohli and Rohit are not under evaluation for the upcoming ODI World Cup, emphasizing the uncertainty of the future and the possibility that younger players might also miss the tournament. He noted the impracticality of assessing their performance in every game and mentioned that both players have had limited cricket recently. He suggested that their situation should be evaluated once they resume playing.
They are not currently on trial; their achievements go beyond just winning trophies to include runs as well. Performance in a single series won’t solely determine their future, whether good or bad. The focus is on the team’s long-term progression and shaping, with evolving ideas on its development.
