Before the New Zealand ODI series in January, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are anticipated to play in at least three, if not four, Vijay Hazare Trophy matches, assuming they still intend to compete in the 2027 World Cup.
There will be at least six rounds of Vijay Hazare Trophy matches for Delhi and Mumbai between the end of the South Africa ODIs and the beginning of the New Zealand leg, and the national selectors would anticipate that the duo would compete in the 50-over competition.
Every centrally contracted player who is available and fit is expected to play domestic cricket, according to chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar.
“Between last ODI against South Africa on December 6 at Visakhapatnam and the first ODI against New Zealand at Vadodara on January 11, there is a gap of five weeks.
“The Vijay Hazare Trophy starts on December 24. There will be six rounds of games for Mumbai (December 24, 26, 29, 31, Jan 3, 6, 8). Rohit will be expected to at least play three rounds before linking up with the squad. Ditto for Virat,” a PTI report quoted a BCCI source as saying on conditions of anonymity.
Both of them probably need to play some domestic cricket to get into the swing of things. In fact, they could have played in the India A series, according to Ravichandran Ashwin, who made this statement on his YouTube channel.
“If you need their services, you have to find a way. For example, the India ‘A’ series happened, so you need to ask them to play that series because there is not much 50-over cricket. They should have said that if you don’t play the series, I don’t think you fit in the plan.
“If not this series, then they have to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy, because that will let us know the kind of form you are in,” Ashwin said.
Both of them probably need to play some domestic cricket to get into the swing of things. In fact, they could have played in the India A series, according to Ravichandran Ashwin, who made this statement on his YouTube channel.
