Ajit Agarkar orders Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli to play Vijay Hazare Trophy to save international careers

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli might have retained their places in India’s ODI squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series in Australia, but they have to fulfill all the BCCI demands to stay in contention for the ICC World Cup 2027 in South Africa.

After announcing the white-ball squads for the upcoming Australia tour, Indian chief selector Ajit Agarkar has delivered a strong message to all senior players, including Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, ahead of the busy season. Notably, both Kohli and Rohit retired from Tests and T20Is.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli must play domestic cricket to stay in ICC World Cup 2027 plans

The Indian selection committee has made it clear that Kohli and Rohit will be expected to participate in domestic tournaments, including the Vijay Hazare Trophy, whenever they are not on international duty.

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Ajit Agarkar told media after unveiling the squads for the Australia tour, "We've made it clear that whenever the players are available, they should be playing domestic cricket. If you are not playing international cricket, you are expected to play domestic cricket.”

Recently, Kohli didn’t show any interest in playing white-ball games against Australia A.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli must earn their spots: BCCI

Meanwhile, the BCCI has also made it clear that future selections of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be strictly based on merit, and they were selected for the upcoming Australia tour because of their past performances in the 50-over format of the game.

This move has left fans wondering about the former captains’ ODI future, especially with the ICC World Cup 2027 on the horizon. Well, the Indian chief selector acknowledged the incredible legacy of both players, highlighting their leadership and record-breaking runs for India.

However, Agarkar’s message was clear that the past achievements will no longer guarantee a place in the team. He stressed that every player, regardless of stature, must prove their worth through current performances to secure a spot, and they expect the same from Kohli and Rohit.

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Furthermore, Agarkar has made it clear that it’s far too early to make any promises about India’s squad for the ICC World Cup 2027, especially regarding senior stars like Rohit and Kohli.

With more than two years to go before the tournament, the Indian chief selector has stressed that it is impossible to predict who will be part of the team at this stage.

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However, the former Indian bowler confirmed that Ravindra Jadeja is still in the scheme of things in ODIs. Agarkar signed off by saying, “The 2027 ODI World Cup is far away, and it's not right to say anything about today.”

Notably, Jadeja, who also retired from T20I cricket last year, was not picked for the Australia tour. He won the Player of the Match award for his all-round heroics in India’s massive win over the West Indies in the first Test.

Well, having retired from Test cricket earlier this year and T20Is after winning the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, Kohli and Rohit’s performances in the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia could play a crucial role in shaping their future in the format going forward.