DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma confirmed that Kohli’s name has been included in Delhi’s probables list for the last two rounds of the Ranji Trophy. “Virat Kohli’s name is in the probables list. Rishabh Pant has confirmed that he will be available for selection for Delhi’s Ranji Trophy game against Saurashtra in Rajkot on January 23. Virat should take inspiration from Mumbai cricketers and play for Delhi in domestic cricket, whenever he is available. See in Mumbai, there has always been a culture where their India players turn up for Ranji matches whenever available. It is missing in the North, especially in Delhi,” Sharma told The Indian Express. Delhi’s Ranji Trophy camp is underway.
It is still unclear whether Rohit will play Mumbai’s home match against Jammu and Kashmir.
Post India’s 0-3 loss to New Zealand, the first home series defeat in 12 years, and the 1-3 defeat in Australia, the lack of domestic game time for some of India’s top cricketers has been in focus. Pant, 27, featured in all 10 Tests that India played since September 2024 after making one appearance in the season-opening Duleep Trophy. Pant’s last Ranji Trophy appearance was in the 2017-18 final against Vidarbha in December 2017.
Rohit’s last appearance for the Mumbai team was in 2015 against Uttar Pradesh. The last time Kohli played a domestic match was in 2012.
The Indian Express had reported on Monday that Rohit Sharma had informed the Mumbai team management that he will be turning up for the practice session. He was seen batting alongside Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy captain Ajinkya Rahane during practice.
After the Sydney Test, India head coach Gautam Gambhir had said that he would want everyone to play domestic cricket. “I would always like everyone to play domestic cricket. That is how much importance domestic cricket needs to be given. Not only one game, but if they are available and have the commitment to play red-ball cricket, everyone should play domestic cricket. If you don’t give importance to domestic cricket, you will never get the players that you want in Test cricket,” Gambhir had said.
In February last year, then BCCI secretary Jay Shah had written to top cricketers, centrally contracted as well as with India A, warning them that domestic cricket remains a “critical yardstick for selection” to the national team and non-participation will have “severe implications”.
“Legends like Sunil Gavaskar exemplified this dedication, playing club cricket the morning they arrived from an international tour. Domestic cricket was seen not just as a commitment but as a responsibility and a source of pride,” Shah had written.
Follow BCCI diktat
DDCA secretary Sharma said it was important for cricketers to follow the BCCI diktat. “The BCCI has also mentioned players should participate in domestic cricket. I feel Virat should play at least one game.”
Kohli had a disappointing tour Down Under, after scoring a century in the second innings of the first Test at Perth. His scores in his other eight innings read 5, 7, 11, 3, 36, 5, 17 and 6.
Rohit, with 31 runs in five innings in Australia, has been under pressure. He stood down from the final Test in Sydney because of poor form.
Meanwhile, DDCA president Rohan Jaitely said “fit and available” Kohli should play Ranji Trophy, but there are other factors as well.
“He should, but there are too many moving parts,” Jaitely told this newspaper. “With the amount of cricket that they (cricketers) are playing, they have to be at the top of their fitness. Multiple factors have to be looked at.”
However, Jaitley maintained that playing in domestic cricket should be a top priority for all cricketers.
“It is exceptionally important to participate in domestic tournaments. If on national duty, obviously one cannot participate, but otherwise they should. Since the players are managed by the NCA (National Cricket Academy) and the national selectors, there are multiple things, based on their load management, etc. But they should keep domestic cricket on their priority list, which is exceptionally important,” he said.
When coaxed about whether the DDCA had reached out to Kohli, he said: “With regard to whether we have reached out or not, I am sure the selectors and the CAC are the ones who would be in touch and coordinating things, so it is something that they would be far better equipped to respond on.”
Jaitley insisted Kohli’s presence in the Delhi camp can leave a long-lasting impact on up-and-coming cricketers.
“It is exceptional because it is not about the game, it is about what you pick up also from the experience of a cricketer. Sharing a dressing room, being a part of a camp with the likes of Virat, is huge. I am also a lawyer, so when you assist a senior advocate or you are working on an important matter, you may not be arguing it, but you will learn a lot in that process,” he added.
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