New Delhi, Dec 15: The BCCI has made it mandatory for all current national team players to feature in at least two one day matches of the upcoming Vijay
Hazare Trophy, beginning December 24, as part of a renewed push to strengthen domestic cricket participation among senior stars.
With a three week gap between India's last T20I against South Africa in Ahmedabad on December 19 and the opening ODI against New Zealand on January 11, 2026, the Board wants its leading players to remain match ready through domestic competition.
The directive has been communicated by the Ajit Agarkar led national selection committee and follows recommendations from a review conducted after India's Test debacle in Australia earlier this year, which called for greater emphasis on domestic cricket across formats.
Veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have already conveyed their availability for the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Other senior players including Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav have also been instructed to represent their respective state teams in at least two matches. Barring Shreyas Iyer, who is still some time away from full fitness, most players are expected to turn out for their domestic sides.
"There are six rounds of the Vijay Hazare Trophy scheduled between December 24 and the start of the New Zealand ODIs. It is up to the players and their state associations to decide which two rounds they would like to play," a senior BCCI official was quoted by PTI. "But after the second T20I in Mullanpur, the players have been categorically told that playing the Hazare is not optional. "
MyKhel had last week reported that Kohli has agreed to play two games in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Delhi, while Pant is likely to be available for the state side for the entire 50-over domestic tournament.
Exceptions will be considered only if a player is declared unfit by the Centre of Excellence, though officials believe there is sufficient recovery time following the South Africa series. The move is also seen as an attempt to counter the perception that the team management and head coach Gautam Gambhir are singling out senior players like Kohli and Rohit, underlining that the rule applies uniformly to all.
Meanwhile, premier India pacer Jasprit Bumrah was forced to return home ahead of the third T20I in Dharamsala due to personal reasons. According to sources, a close family member of the fast bowler has been hospitalised. "If all goes well, he might return for the fourth or even fifth game in Ahmedabad. The first priority is the recovery of his family member," a source said.
The BCCI is also expected to announce India's squad for the T20 World Cup and the preceding New Zealand series on the same day, likely in the first week of January, in line with ICC deadlines. The squad selected for the New Zealand T20Is is expected to be the same as the one named for the global event.
