Reports: Virat Kohli has refused to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy

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Reports: Virat Kohli has refused to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy: Following the retirement of two Indian cricket legends, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, from Test and T20 International cricket, questions have now arisen about their continued participation in one format and domestic cricket. According to recent reports, the team’s star batsman, Virat Kohli, has decided not to play in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy, sparking renewed speculation about his future in Indian cricket.

BCCI rules on domestic cricket participation

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The BCCI recently made domestic cricket participation mandatory for all players. This rule was introduced with the aim of promoting young talent and keeping players consistently match-fit. In such a situation, Kohli’s refusal could create a difficult situation for the selectors and team management.

Questions about Kohli’s future

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This development comes at a time when the 2027 World Cup is still two years away, and there is growing discussion about his long-term role in the ODI setup. Selectors are concerned because both Kohli and Rohit have retired from Tests and T20Is, reducing their overall workload.

With limited ODI matches in the next two years, their participation in domestic List A cricket becomes crucial to keeping them match-ready. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar has reportedly insisted that attendance in domestic matches is essential for continued selection.

Growing differences with Gambhir

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According to media reports, Kohli’s differences with head coach Gautam Gambhir have been growing since his retirement from Test cricket. This tension has reportedly worsened due to disagreements over the batsman’s preparation methods and future workload.

  • In contrast, Rohit Sharma has agreed to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy and has also made himself available for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

 Kohli’s Different View: Mental Preparation vs. Excessive Practice

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While the selectors are emphasizing playing domestic cricket, Kohli believes he relies more on mental preparation than excessive match practice.

After his 52nd ODI century, he publicly stated that he does not believe in excessive preparation.

Attempts at Mediation

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To defuse the growing tension and restore balance between coach and player, the Board has sent selector Pragyan Ojha to Raipur to mediate between Kohli and Gambhir during the India-South Africa ODI series.

Kohli’s decision could mark a turning point for Indian cricket. It remains to be seen how the selectors and team management handle this situation and whether Kohli’s domestic cricket participation rules will be relaxed.

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