Team India stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are expected to feature in at least three, if not four, Vijay Hazare Trophy matches before the New Zealand ODI series in January.
The duo is aiming to feature in the ODI World Cup 2027.
Before the conclusion of the ODI matches against South Africa and the start of the New Zealand series, there will be approximately six rounds of Vijay Hazare Trophy matches for Mumbai and Delhi.
Team India selectors would expect the star duo to play in the 50-over domestic league.
With chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar, made it clear that every centrally contracted player, who is fit and available, is expected to play domestic cricket.
“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 BCCI source told PTI on the condition of anonymity.
The former Team India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also said on his YouTube channel that the duo would be expected to play domestic cricket and could have also played the India A series.
“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,” said Ashwin.
“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,” he added.
Virat and Rohit will be back in action ahead of the ODI series against Australia. The first match is scheduled to be played on October 19 at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
(With PTI Inputs)