Rohit Sharma confirms participation after BCCI’s strong message

Dubai: Former India captain Rohit Sharma has expressed his willingness to participate in domestic cricket following the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) directive that senior players must feature in domestic competitions to remain in contention for future ODI selections, including the 2027 World Cup.

Rohit has informed the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) that he will be available for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy, which begins on December 24. This tournament falls within the only domestic one-day window between India’s home ODI series against South Africa (December 3—9) and New Zealand (from January 11).

In contrast, there is still uncertainty over Virat Kohli’s availability. Sources suggest that the 37-year-old, currently residing in London, has yet to communicate his plans to the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA).

Rohit’s participation will mark his return to Mumbai’s one-day setup, reinforcing his commitment to staying match-fit. Both Rohit and Kohli have retired from Tests and T20 Internationals, now focusing solely on the 50-over format. The BCCI and team management have, however, insisted that even senior players must “go through the domestic grind” to maintain form and remain eligible for national selection.

“The board and team management have told both players that if they wish to continue playing for India, they must take part in domestic cricket,” a BCCI official told The Indian Express. “Since they’ve retired from two formats, domestic matches will help them stay match-ready.”

Both players featured in India’s recent ODI series against Australia, where Rohit was named Player of the Series after scoring a half-century and a century in the second and third matches. Kohli, after two early dismissals, bounced back with an unbeaten fifty in the final game.

Rohit, who last represented Mumbai in a Ranji Trophy fixture earlier this year — his first in over a decade — is also considering playing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, starting November 26. The 38-year-old has been training at Mumbai’s Sharad Pawar Indoor Academy in preparation for the domestic season.

Meanwhile, chief selector Ajit Agarkar reiterated that participation in domestic tournaments remains mandatory for all players when not on international duty. “We made it clear some time ago that whenever players are available, they should play domestic cricket,” Agarkar said recently. “That’s the only way to stay sharp and maintain rhythm during long breaks.”

Agarkar also clarified that while neither Rohit nor Kohli is “on trial,” their fitness and form will continue to be evaluated through domestic performances. “They’ve achieved everything there is to achieve,” he said. “But 2027 is still a long way away — once they start playing regularly, we’ll assess things as we move forward.”