Overview:
The Indian Cricket Board has opened up about whether the two greats were instructed to play the ODI tournament.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have decided to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy to get the much-needed match practice ahead of the next ODI series against New Zealand. Both players have been in good form since returning to action against Australia. Rohit scored a hundred and fifty while Kohli managed a half-century.
In the next series against South Africa, Kohli posted two hundreds and fifty. On the other hand, Rohit managed two fifties. Rohit was the Player of the Series Down Under, while Kohli got the award in the assignment against the Proteas. However, there has been scrutiny over their future and whether they can play the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Before the series against Australia, it was reported that two star players were asked to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy if they wanted to be eligible for national selection. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made it mandatory for centrally contracted players to compete in domestic cricket whenever they are away from international cricket.
Meanwhile, the Indian Cricket Board has opened up about whether the two greats were instructed to play the ODI tournament.
According to RevSportz, a BCCI official said that the decision-makers never told the two senior players to play domestic matches.
“It is their decision, and they have decided to play,” the official said.
Kohli and Rohit also played a Ranji Trophy match earlier this year in January before deciding to retire from Test cricket.
Virat has already informed the Delhi and District Cricket Association about his decision to participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Rohit is also expected to represent Mumbai in the upcoming tournament. Kohli scored 302 runs in three ODIs against South Africa, while Kohli accumulated 146 runs.
Despite their impressive performances, India head coach Gautam Gambhir has refused to confirm whether the two match-winners will be playing the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.