The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has given a clear message to Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli regarding their selection, as per reports.
Rohit and Virat are restricted to playing in the ODI
format only, and to get selected, the board wants the India duo to participate in the domestic competitions.
With no Test and T20I on the fray, the India veterans are expected to take part in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy to keep themselves match fit. India will take on South Africa in an ODI series up next, but after that, when the 50-over domestic tournament starts, their participation is solicited.
"The board and team management have conveyed to both of them that they will have to play domestic cricket if they want to play for India. As they both have retired from two formats, they have to play domestic cricket to be match-fit," a BCCI official was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
As per the latest reports, Rohit Sharma has already confirmed his availability for Vijay Hazare, as he communicated it to the Mumbai Cricket Association. Virat's participation remains a doubt as the India star currently lives in London with his family.
In the recent Australia ODI series, Rohit Sharma was outstanding, scoring an unbeaten 121 in the final ODI at Sydney, showcasing his class and composure with a mix of strokes and aggression. He reached his 33rd ODI century and earned Player of the Match and Player of the Series honours. Virat Kohli struggled initially but bounced back strongly with a vital 74 not out in the last match, forming a crucial 168-run partnership with Rohit to secure a nine-wicket win for India. This knock made Kohli the second-highest run-scorer in Men's ODIs.
But that doesn't warrant their place for India in the upcoming assignments. With ODI matches few and far between in the pathway to the ODI World Cup 2027, both Rohit and Virat will have to prove their fitness and form to be in that squad.
Although chief selector Ajit Agarkar mentioned they weren't in the trial, one doesn't need to be an Einstein to understand the current scenario of the Indian team, which hasn't been shy about snubbing top names.
