The controversy surrounding the senior Indian players has intensified as Virat Kohli reportedly refused to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, while Rohit Sharma confirmed his participation for Mumbai. It becomes more important in the wake of Kohli’s 83rd ODI century against South Africa in Ranchi masterful innings which once again cemented his 50-over credentials. His decision puts the BCCI in a dilemma, balancing domestic participation rules with the star batter’s current form.
Why has Virat Kohli Refused to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy?
Sources close to him say that Kohli does not think he needs “excessive preparation,” leveraging a workload pattern that is different from the rest. His post-match comments following the Ranchi ODI – where he struck the century – suggested that his preparation is anchored more in mental sharpness than in accumulating match time:
“I’ve never been a believer in a lot of prep. As long as my fitness levels are up, and you visualise batting and feeling well, it’s good,” he said.
But the board isn’t budging: there can be no exceptions. And with Rohit Sharma making his availability for both the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the BCCI fears a precedent may be set for flexibility only for its biggest star.
What is the Stance of BCCI on Virat Kohli’s Situation?
The BCCI has continuously supported promoting and, on occasion, pushing its biggest stars to participate in domestic competitions. Following the disastrous Test series in Australia at the start of the year, Rohit and Kohli were both instructed to play Ranji Trophy matches to revive match sharpness.
With the Champions Trophy coming up and India entering a busy white-ball cycle, the board wants its senior-most players to remain rooted in the domestic structure, more so in formats in which they have been selective about participation.
Is Virat Kohli’s Refusal Related to Rumoured Rift with Gautam Gambhir?
There have been reports in recent weeks about a frosty relationship between Kohli and head coach Gautam Gambhir. Apparently, friction inside the setup has resulted from disagreements over Kohli’s long-term role, communication patterns and the management’s desired roadmap.
In light of what is happening, the BCCI has dispatched national selector Pragyan Ojha to the Raipur venue for the second ODI against South Africa to mediate between the two. Although there is no official statement indicating any rift, sources reveal that the situation is sensitive enough to warrant intervention.
