Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma – the 2 Indian stalwarts – have already bid adieu to Exams and T20Is with the hope that they’ll lengthen their ODI careers. At this stage of their careers – Kohli is 36 and Rohit, 38 – the 50-overs format is the very best fitted to them. Having endured the heartbreak of the 2023 ODI World Cup up shut and private, Kohli and Rohit, who’re but to win the 50-overs World Cup collectively, are desperate to chase the final word glory within the 2027 World Cup, which might cap off an ideal, story-book ending for the 2 celebrity batters.
Till a few days in the past, Rohit and Kohli seemed sure to keep up their place within the ODI setup. Nonetheless, in response to a report in Dainik Jagran, the murmurs about their future have already gained steam. It acknowledged that the upcoming three-match ODI collection towards Australia in October is likely to be Rohit and Kohli’s swansongs in Indian cricket.
If the duo decides to increase their profession past Australia, Rohit and Kohli shall be anticipated to show up for Mumbai and Delhi within the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025. The selectors need the possible World Cup gamers to stay in contact with the sport, and therefore can be requested to play in India’s premier home ODI event.
Kohli final performed a Vijay Hazare Trophy match for Delhi in February 2010 towards Providers. In that match towards Gurgaon, he scored 16 runs whereas batting at quantity 5. Rohit’s final VHT recreation was rather more current than Kohli’s – in 2018, when he scored 24 within the semi-final towards Hyderabad for Mumbai.
The BCCI’s VHT demand may stem from its reprioritisation of home cricket. Earlier this yr, after India’s 1-3 defeat towards Australia within the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the BCCI made it obligatory for all centrally-contracted gamers to be accessible for his or her states for home cricket with a purpose to be accessible for nationwide choice.
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The Jagran report acknowledged that the BCCI is targeted on grooming younger expertise for the upcoming marquee 50-over event, with preparations already in full swing. If Rohit and Kohli certainly flip up, it’s going to be nothing new. In January 2025, each gamers represented their state groups within the Ranji Trophy, following a BCCI mandate. The ten-point directive urged all gamers to return to home red-ball cricket to regain kind.
Now, the BCCI is reportedly contemplating asking Kohli and Sharma to play within the Vijay Hazare Trophy. However is that this expectation sensible? What worth would their participation within the 50-over competitors carry, and the way a lot recreation time may they acquire? We discover these questions beneath.
What’s India’s schedule?
India’s 2025-26 ODI schedule consists of 9 ODIs (three away video games towards Australia and 6 dwelling video games towards South Africa and New Zealand). Nonetheless, the three matches towards Australia and as many video games towards South Africa will wrap up even earlier than the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 begins.
India and Australia will sq. off in October, whereas the Proteas will tackle the hosts in a three-match collection from November 30 to December 6. Kohli and Rohit can have six ODIs to show their kind and whether or not they have it in them to maintain going within the 50-over format.
If the duo will get cracking alongside and exhibits no indicators of slowing down in these six ODIs, then the Vijay Hazare Trophy argument turns into bogus. Nonetheless, issues get a bit attention-grabbing if Kohli and Rohit fail to get going and are requested to play the white-ball event in any case.
After the collection towards South Africa, India’s subsequent ODI project is towards New Zealand, starting January 11 subsequent yr. The Vijay Hazare Trophy is scheduled earlier than it because the event shall be performed from 24 December to January 18. Mumbai are in Group C within the Vijay Hazare Trophy, whereas Delhi are in Group E. Seven group stage video games are scheduled earlier than the collection towards New Zealand begins on January 11, and this stage will conclude on January 8, 2026.
Rohit and Kohli can doubtlessly play seven group stage matches of the VHT. Nonetheless, this isn’t sensible because the squad for the New Zealand collection is prone to be introduced late December or early January. If they’re named within the ODI squad, then all seven video games exit of the equation. And if by any likelihood, they are not, then one would not know whether or not Kohli, Rohit would see it match to play your entire event to get again within the reckoning regardless of being world-beaters within the ODI format.
After the ODIs towards New Zealand, India are slated to tackle England within the three-match ODI collection in July 2026. After the IPL, in fact. Loads can change within the subsequent yr or so, however as of now, Rohit and Kohli taking part in the Vijay Hazare Trophy appears bleak, contemplating their stature and the character of India’s schedule.
