The buzz around Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s ODI future just got a fresh twist. Instead of sending them to grind it out in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, some voices within the BCCI want the two veterans to feature in India A matches as a more focused preparation for upcoming international challenges.
The final decision? That rests with Ajit Agarkar, the BCCI’s chairman of selectors.
According to reports, the idea is simple — get Kohli and Rohit match-ready in a controlled, high-quality setting rather than the lengthy and overlapping domestic tournament.
The plan is to slot them into India A’s three List-A matches against Australia A in Kanpur on September 30, October 3, and October 5. These games fall perfectly before the senior team’s ODI tour of Australia, starting October 19, with matches in Perth, Adelaide, and Sydney.
With the Vijay Hazare Trophy clashing with key series against Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand, there’s hardly a realistic window for the duo to participate in the domestic tournament anyway.
Kohli and Rohit stepped away from T20Is in June last year, right after India’s triumphant World Cup win in Barbados.
In a surprise twist, they also bid farewell to Test cricket this May—just weeks before India’s tour of England. That means the two modern greats are now active in only one format at the international level: ODIs.
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Why This Approach Makes Sense
- Better Preparation: Playing against Australia A will mirror international-level intensity.
- Timing Advantage: Matches lead directly into the senior team’s Aussie tour.
- Focused Assessment: Selectors can directly gauge form and fitness without domestic scheduling chaos.
Agarkar and his panel will weigh these factors before making the call.
If this plan goes ahead, it will be an important step for both stars to show they still belong in India’s ODI setup, especially with the 2027 World Cup in mind. Every innings from here on could shape their place in the team’s long-term vision.
