Not Gautam Gambhir! This man to decide Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma’s ODI fate; India A games made mandatory

Will the modern-day batting greats Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have to play India A matches to prove their credentials? This is the biggest question in Indian cricket that has made the fans and experts talk.

According to a report, some officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) believe Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should play India A games if they intend to prolong their ODI careers.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to play Vijay Hazare Trophy or India A matches?

Recently, Dainik Jagran published a bombshell report, claiming that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli could retire from ODI cricket after the conclusion of the upcoming series against the Australia National Cricket Team.

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It was reported that the BCCI had informed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli that they need to feature in Vijay Hazare Trophy matches to stay relevant if they wished to extend their ODI careers beyond the Australia tour, and because of this rule, the duo will quit ODI cricket after the Australia series.

But now it is being reported that the India A matches are the priority and not the Vijay Hazare Trophy because participation in the domestic competition is tough due to the overlapping international schedule, as per PTI.

The BCCI officials reckon that Rohit and Kohli could play the upcoming 50-over India A matches against Australia A on September 30, October 3, and 5 to get ready for the Australia series Down Under.

Also Read: 'Wasn’t Mohammed Siraj’s absolute best': Akash Deep’s shocking take on pacer’s Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy heroics

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's return to cricket has been delayed

Rohit and Kohli retired from T20I cricket after winning the T20 World Cup 2024 and Test cricket before the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, making themselves available as single-format players.

They were expected to make their return to international cricket for the first time since the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in the Bangladesh tour, but it was postponed.

Later, some reports emerged claiming that the BCCI and SLC may organise an India tour of Sri Lanka, which would have consisted of three T20Is and three ODIs, but that didn't go ahead either.

Now, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are set to make their comebacks in the upcoming ODI series against Australia, which will be played on October 19, 23, and 25.

To prepare for the matches, a section in the BCCI wants the duo to play against Australia A at home. Talking about the Vijay Hazare Trophy situation, the report claimed that it might not be mandatory for Kohli and Rohit to feature in the tournament.

This is because the Vijay Hazare Trophy will start on December 24, and before that, they would have played three ODIs each against Australia and South Africa, and will be in line to play three more against New Zealand in January.

Even more important is whether Ajit Agarkar and his colleagues would want that - Ajit Agarkar

A Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) source said that the final decision regarding Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's ODI future, as well as their participation in India A or Vijay Hazare Trophy matches, lies in the hands of the chief selector, Ajit Agarkar.

"Even if they play the Vijay Hazare Trophy, they would have already played six ODIs before that. Between the Australia and South Africa ODI series, there is an India A series against South Africa A with three List A games (50 overs) at Rajkot on November 13, 16, and 19," a BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity.

"Now, the question is whether the duo will want to play those three A games, or possibly two, before the South Africa series. Even more important is whether Ajit Agarkar and his colleagues would want that," he added.

"Overlapping with the Vijay Hazare Trophy (December 24, 2025 – January 18, 2026) are the three ODIs between India and New Zealand (January 11, 14, 18). So even if they play the Vijay Hazare Trophy, it can't be for more than two to three games," he said.