Follow UsIndia’s batting stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have agreed to chief selector Ajit Agarkar’s suggestion of participating in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 to stay in contention for the 2027 ODI World Cup, reported the Press Trust of India (PTI).
After announcing the squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series in Australia, starting October 19, Agarkar said he expects both Kohli and Rohit to feature in domestic tournaments and for India A to remain match-ready - a suggestion the two veterans seem to have accepted.
Both players have been away from competitive cricket since IPL 2025, with their last international appearances coming during the Champions Trophy (February-March). By the time the next World Cup arrives, Kohli will be 39 and Rohit 40.
While the duo have been named in India’s ODI squad for the Australia series, a significant change has already taken place - Shubman Gill has replaced Rohit as ODI captain, signalling that the team management may be preparing for a gradual transition.
The next edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy is set to begin on December 24 and continue until January 18. After the tour of Australia, India will play a three-match ODI series against South Africa at home from November 30 to December 6.
Three more home ODIs are scheduled against New Zealand from January 11 to 18, but there is sufficient time in between for both Kohli and Rohit to feature in at least 3-4 games for Delhi and Mumbai, respectively, in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
"Between the 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,” a BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity.
"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.”
If they wish, both Kohli and Rohit can comfortably play up to five group-stage matches before rejoining the Indian squad for the New Zealand series. However, it remains unlikely that either will do so.
Kohli last featured in a List A match for Delhi in 2010, while Rohit’s last appearance for Mumbai in the same format came in 2018.
Despite their age, both players continue to maintain exceptional ODI records. Since 2023, Rohit has scored 1,714 runs in 37 innings at an average of 48.97 and a strike rate of 117.2, while Kohli has amassed 1,710 runs in 34 innings at an average of 61.07 and a strike rate of 95.8.