BCCI's Clear Message to Cricket Stars
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has issued a strong directive to veteran players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, making it mandatory for them to participate in domestic cricket if they wish to continue representing India in the ODI format. This decision comes as part of the board's renewed focus on fitness and form standards for all centrally contracted players.
New Policy Under Gambhir's Leadership
Since Gautam Gambhir took over as head coach of the Indian cricket team, the management along with BCCI has been clear about their expectations from players. The board has reinforced that all centrally contracted cricketers must play domestic cricket when not engaged in national duties. This policy now specifically applies to Kohli and Rohit, who have retired from Test and T20I cricket but remain available for ODI selection.
The timing of this directive is significant with the ODI season approaching and the 2027 World Cup in perspective. Both former captains now have substantial time between international commitments to maintain their match fitness through domestic cricket tournaments.
Official Stance and Future Implications
According to sources quoted by The Indian Express, "The board and team management have conveyed to both of them that they will have to play domestic cricket if they want to play for India." The source further emphasized that "as they both have retired from two formats, they have to play domestic cricket to be match-fit."
This move represents a significant shift in how senior players are managed in Indian cricket. Both Kohli and Rohit were last seen during India's ODI series against Australia in October, and their participation in domestic cricket will be closely watched by selectors and fans alike as India builds toward the 2027 World Cup campaign.
