The BCCI has drawn a firm line for its senior stars: for the legendary duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, if they want to continue playing in the Indian men’s ODI team, the board has made playing domestic cricket non-negotiable.
The development marks a significant shift in policy, signifying that even mega stars must now go through the route of match practice and form via domestic tournaments.
According to reports, Rohit has already confirmed his availability for the upcoming domestic one-day tournament while Kohli is yet to make his status clear.
Why has the BCCI imposed this Mandate?
The BCCI’s directive comes as the two stalwarts have stepped away from both Test and T20I formats and now play only ODIs for India.
The board believes that their recent hiatus from the domestic circuit may compromise match sharpness and readiness for upcoming international assignments. The need to play a tournament such as the Vijay Hazare Trophy has been identified as one of the ways of ensuring they stay competitively primed.
What have Rohit and Kohli said?
Rohit Sharma seems to have responded quickly to the board’s message; sources mention he has communicated with his state association and informed them that he intends to feature in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Kohli hasn’t confirmed his availability for the same yet, making things a little uncertain over his availability for the domestic season. The contrast raises questions around their respective priorities and commitment to the ODI format’s future.
How Kohli and Rohit playing Domestic Cricket Might affect the Landscape?
The return of Kohli and Rohit to domestic one-day tournaments would be a big boost for fans and the respective state teams participating. Their presence can raise spectator interest, TV viewership, and competitive intensity.
On the other hand, this also places pressure on younger players to perform and may limit the chances of young emerging talent should senior players hold those spots. The board seems comfortable with that tradeoff, favoring form and match fitness above all else.
Rohit & Virat Recent Performance Against Australia
The recent India tour of Australia in October–November 2025 was a real test for the visiting Indian side. It was a 2–1 series loss for the visitors, but the final game was a vintage display from Rohit and Kohli.
In that third ODI, India bowled Australia out for 236 and then chased the target in commanding style. Rohit scored an unbeaten 121, while Kohli added a composed 74.
Their partnership of 168 for the second wicket at the Sydney Cricket Ground marked a memorable victory, though in a dead rubber. The series result overall, though, underlined that individual brilliance alone is not enough, consistency and depth remain concern areas for India in 50 over cricket.
