Kohli and Rohit return to domestic cricket as Vijay Hazare Trophy gets star-studded makeover
The Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 has suddenly become the most talked-about domestic tournament in years, thanks to the presence of India’s biggest cricket stars. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be playing the 50-over competition after long gaps, while Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav and Abhishek Sharma also feature in their respective state squads. The tournament begins on December 24, and it marks a significant shift in Indian cricket’s approach to domestic participation, with the BCCI making at least two Vijay Hazare matches mandatory for all centrally contracted players.
Why Kohli and Rohit are back in domestic cricket
The return of Kohli and Rohit to domestic cricket is directly linked to the BCCI’s new policy requiring all India players to participate in domestic tournaments whenever their schedule permits. This decision came after a review meeting held earlier in 2025 following India’s loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
According to a senior BCCI official quoted by PTI,
“But after the second T20I in Mullanpur, the players have been categorically told that playing Hazare isn’t optional”.
For Kohli, this will be his first Vijay Hazare Trophy appearance in 15 years. He has been training with former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar in Mumbai and arrived in Bengaluru on December 23, suggesting he will play Delhi’s opening matches against Andhra and Gujarat. Rohit has confirmed he will play Mumbai’s first two matches against Sikkim and Uttarakhand in Jaipur on December 24 and 26.
The pressure on the senior stars
While Kohli and Rohit remain India’s biggest current stars, their participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy reflects the changing power dynamics in Indian cricket. Both players still have the freedom to choose which matches they play, but they cannot control their destiny if runs don’t flow from their bats.
The recent example of Shubman Gill being dropped from India’s T20 World Cup squad despite being a high-value player, while Ishan Kishan was recalled after his stellar Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy performance, sends a clear message. If the selectors can drop Gill due to form and fitness concerns, then no one is safe.
For Kohli and Rohit, this tournament is about proving they still have the fire to compete at the highest level, while also fending off competition from younger players like Yash Dhull and R Smaran who are scoring heavily in domestic cricket.
What Gill and Pant are playing for
Shubman Gill will be looking to bounce back after missing out on the T20 World Cup squad. The Punjab captain will use the Vijay Hazare Trophy as preparation for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand in January, where he will lead India.
Rishabh Pant, a Test certainty, has not played ODIs or T20Is for India since August 2024. He will be eager to use this tournament to push for a return to India’s white-ball squads while representing Delhi.
Key India Stars Playing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25
Player | State | Last domestic appearance | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
Virat Kohli | Delhi | 15 years ago | Prove form ahead of NZ ODIs |
Rohit Sharma | Mumbai | Recent gap | Show fitness and form |
Shubman Gill | Punjab | Recent | Warm-up for NZ ODI series as captain |
Rishabh Pant | Delhi | Recent | Reclaim white-ball spot |
Suryakumar Yadav | Mumbai | Recent | Maintain match fitness |
Abhishek Sharma | Punjab | Recent | Build on T20 form |
Search for new pace bowling talent
Beyond the star-studded batting line-ups, selectors will be keeping a close eye on young fast bowlers in this tournament. Since Mohammed Siraj emerged from the Ranji Trophy circuit a few years ago, no young pacer has been able to break into India’s established pace attack consistently.
Even the current support bowlers like Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana and Akash Deep have not been consistent enough. In that context, pacers like Gurjapneet Singh from Tamil Nadu, Gurnoor Brar from Punjab, Yudhvir Singh from Jammu and Kashmir, Anuj Thakral from Haryana, and Sakib Hussain from Bihar will attract keen interest from the selectors.
BCCI’s mandatory domestic cricket rule
The BCCI’s new policy makes it clear that all centrally contracted players must participate in domestic cricket, with exemptions only for those declared unfit by the Centre of Excellence. Players like Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya and others are also expected to honour this obligation, with only Shreyas Iyer excused as he recovers from injury
This marks a significant cultural shift in Indian cricket, where even the biggest stars are now expected to play domestic tournaments regularly to stay sharp and give back to the system that nurtured them.