BCCI insists that Indian cricket stars play in the Ranji Trophy

The selectors had encouraged Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to participate in the Duleep Trophy last year as well, but the players opted out, citing personal reasons.

Selectors Urge Stars to Prioritize Domestic Cricket

The debate over the importance of domestic cricket versus workload management continues to challenge modern-day cricket. The Indian team is currently addressing this issue as leading players, who are not part of the upcoming five T20I series against England, have been advised to participate in the next round of Ranji Trophy matches starting January 23. This directive from the selection committee targets key players who showed struggles with form and technical flaws during the Test series in Australia.

Here is a table detailing the last Ranji Trophy appearances of the specified Indian cricketers:

If implemented, this move would see Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant playing for Delhi against Saurashtra, led by Ravindra Jadeja in Rajkot, while Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal would feature for Mumbai against Jammu & Kashmir. KL Rahul might represent Karnataka against Punjab, with Shubman Gill donning the Punjab jersey in Bengaluru.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir echoed this sentiment, stating after the Sydney Test loss: “If they are available and committed to red-ball cricket, everyone should participate in domestic cricket.”

This initiative comes at the end of a demanding Test season where results fell short of expectations. With the ODI series beginning on February 6 and the IPL starting on March 21, it remains to be seen if players will take the domestic route.

Increased scheduling demands on all-format players and the expanding IPL window have made players cautious about risking injuries on domestic grounds. Both Rohit and Kohli have played only one Ranji Trophy match each since their international debuts.

A BCCI official clarified that this is not a strict directive but emphasized that skipping domestic cricket without valid medical or fitness reasons could impact future selections. Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan’s central contracts were not renewed last year after they ignored similar advice. While this scenario may not apply to senior players like Rohit and Kohli, the board strongly believes Kohli needs to revisit his basics to regain his form.

A similar suggestion was made last September for Rohit and Kohli to participate in the Duleep Trophy ahead of home Tests against Bangladesh and New Zealand. However, the duo requested rest, and the board did not insist further. Their struggles against spin on turning pitches in subsequent matches highlighted the need for match practice. Kohli’s limited red-ball cricket exposure before these Tests also contributed to his challenges.

“There’s no substitute for spending time at the crease to regain confidence. It’s up to the players, no matter their experience, to recognize this,” a BCCI official remarked.

Following the Sydney Test on January 5, the BCCI believes a two-week break offers sufficient rest for younger players. Playing first-class cricket during this period would provide valuable match practice and prepare them for the white-ball season, offering more benefits than relying solely on net sessions before the ODI series.