"If You See Our Calender" - Rohit Sharma Reacts To BCCI's Mandate On Playing Domestic Cricket

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has shared his opinion on BCCI's mandate on making domestic cricket mandatory for all the players in the recent meeting.

The BCCI had a meeting on different proposals and listed out a 10-point diktat to foster discipline and unity within the Indian team.this week, after a review meeting - that Rohit was part of - to go over India's recent poor run in Test cricket.

Rohit was also heard saying during a press interaction in Mumbai that his teammates had expressed some concerns over some of the guidelines, including the restrictions on families travelling with the players.

Rohit Sharma Stands For Teammates On BCCI's Domestic Cricket Structure

He has finally broken his silence on BCCI's rules and shared his opinion on the same on Saturday, January 18, the day when India's Champions Trophy 2025 squad was announced. Speaking about the domestic cricket mandate, Rohit said that while he understood the rationale behind BCCI's call, the players did not have much time over the last six to seven players to play domestic cricket regularly.

"[In the] last six-seven years, if you go back and see our calendar, there hasn't been a time where we were sitting at home for 45 days and there is cricket going on," Rohit said. "You do get that time when you finish the IPL and if there's nothing happening right after that. But if you see our domestic season, it starts in October - maybe September - and it gets over by February-March. And that is the time India plays a lot of [international] cricket as well. So, guys who are not playing certain formats and have time, and then there is domestic cricket happening, then they will play" said Rohit.

Meanwhile, ahead of India's ODI series against England, several Indian cricketers will return back to playing domestic cricket. Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal will turn up for Mumbai, Shubman Gill will play for Punjab while Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli will play for Delhi. This is the first time Rohit will be playing domestic cricket in over a decade. Rohit is available for Mumbai's game against Jammu & Kashmir starting from January 23.

Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar also clarified that the BCCI recommendations were not a "diktat" or "punishment".