- By Namrata Vijay
- Wed, 12 Nov 2025 10:14 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
IND vs SA: Ex-India skippers Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been told by the BCCI that they should be playing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy if they want to play for the country. Both Virat and Rohit had announced their retirement from the shortest format and Tests as well. They just play in ODIs and last represented India against Australia last month. During the three-match ODI series, which the host won by 2-1, where Rohit had smashed a fifty in the second match and then a hundred in the last match, at the same time, Kohli too scored a fifty in the last game in Sydney.
“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. As they both have retired from two formats, they have to play domestic cricket to be match-fit," a BCCI source told the Indian Express.
According to Express, Rohit has made himself available to MCA for their Vijay Hazare Trophy game, but there's no clarity from Virat's side.
Kohli, who is the second-highest run-scorer in this format, last participated in a Ranji Trophy match way back in 2010 against Services. In that match, he was the captain of the Delhi cricket team along with BCCI president Mithun Manhas, and Shikhar Dhawan were also part of the playing XI.
At the same time, Rohit has also told the MCA that he is available for the SMAT as well, which will be held later this month.
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But there are very few chances of him playing in the SMAT as he will be busy playing in the ODI series against South Africa, which will begin later this month in Ranchi. Although the BCCI hasn't revealed the team for this series, Rohit will anyway be picked as he was adjudged the player of the series award against Australia and has become the No.1 ODI batter.