Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the veterans of the game, have been going through a rough patch for the last few months, especially in the longer formats. They are struggling to build innings, something they were once best known for. This rough patch has contributed to India not retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and losing out in the World Test Championship finals race.
When the cricketing world believed that both legends were nearing the end of their careers, especially after they retired from T20 Internationals, fans speculated that they would soon announce their retirement from other formats to focus on ODIs. However, that was not the case. Rohit Sharma formally stated, “I'm not done yet,” while close sources confirmed that Virat Kohli intends to continue playing in this format.
As both veterans aim to make a comeback to form, they have set their sights on the Ranji Trophy and have announced their availability for the remaining matches leading up to the Champions Trophy in 2025. Following the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the BCCI held an urgent meeting involving all coaching staff and managers to address Team India’s poor performance in the longer formats. One key point raised was that all contracted players should participate in domestic matches whenever possible. Following this announcement, Rohit Sharma expressed his interest and began preparing for the next Ranji game for Mumbai. It is also expected that Virat Kohli will play at least one match for Delhi before the white-ball season begins.
This new rule not only brought back Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma but also encouraged players like Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who were snubbed from the T20 squad facing England, to return to domestic cricket.
ADVERTISEMENT
Loading...
Reality Check
This move has been welcomed by many fans and seen as an inspiring effort to reconnect with their roots and regain the form they have lost, despite being dominant figures in the game for over a decade.
However, there is another side to consider: with India’s Test season over and the next Test series starting in June after the conclusion of the IPL, the participation of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma appears unnecessary, especially with white-ball tournaments on the horizon. While it is commendable that they are trying to improve their game after all these years, the timing seems a bit off. If Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant participate, it could take opportunities away from upcoming talent and could ultimately deny a deserving player a place in the playing XI.
The Ideal Time
In terms of timing, both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma may want to play in the England tour, which could lead them to skip half or the final few matches of the IPL to participate in County cricket. This experience would be tremendously beneficial as preparation for the Test series. Since both Kohli and Sharma are retired from T20Is, they could focus more on this than on the IPL. However, the reality is starkly different; the IPL is generally given priority over the traditional formats, and it is rare for star players in India to skip the league to practice for a different format to address poor form.
ADVERTISEMENT
Loading...
Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are significant figures in the Indian Premier League, making it unlikely that they would skip the league or even part of it to concentrate on red-ball cricket. Recent news indicates that Virat Kohli will represent Surrey in County cricket right after the IPL ends, though we await confirmation.
As it stands, it is disheartening that opportunities could be denied to future stars. However, both the fans of Kohli and Sharma still have much to learn from their dedication at this moment.