The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly urging former India captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to feature in the upcoming 2025-26 edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT). The premier domestic one-day tournament is scheduled to be played from December 24 to January 18.
According to a Times of India report, the board is keen on having the senior players gain match practice in the domestic circuit. A source was quoted saying, “The board would have been pleased if they (Rohit and Virat) had played some cricket in England during the summer. They will be advised to take part in the Vijay Hazare Trophy next month.”
While Rohit Sharma has reportedly already made himself available for Mumbai’s VHT matches, official clarity is still pending regarding Virat Kohli’s participation. Kohli has not played in the VHT for Delhi for over a decade, though he did represent the team in a Ranji Trophy match earlier this year, suggesting his involvement in the domestic one-day tournament is possible.
The BCCI’s focus on the domestic tournament comes as the board plans a critical meeting following the India-South Africa ODI series (November 30 to December 6). This meeting, scheduled between the selectors and the team management, aims to “firm up a plan on Rohit and Kohli’s future” in the ODI setup, with a clear focus on building the team for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Sources suggest the team management is also working on identifying backup players for both Rohit and Kohli, in case they are unavailable for the major showcase event. A BCCI source stressed the need for clear communication: “It is very important that players of Rohit and Kohli’s stature are given clarity about what is expected of them and how the current management views their roles. They can’t just be playing with uncertainty.” The board is looking to address recent performances, noting that while the two scored runs in a recent ODI against Australia, they “looked rusty in the first two matches.”