By Aakash Chopra dismisses speculation that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma need to play the domestic Vijay Hazare Trophy to secure ODI selection; given India’s sparse ODI schedule, performance in that tournament would be irrelevant. Read on for full breakdown.
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Indian cricket legend Aakash Chopra has flatly rejected recent speculation that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma must play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy if they wish to remain in contention for India’s ODI squad. According to Chopra, the talk is “bogus” and unrealistic, given India’s heavily compressed schedule of only nine ODIs slated before the next IPL season.
Speaking on his YouTube channel (as reported by Cricket.com), Chopra elaborated: “The duo said goodbye to the wrong format. Tests are the toughest, while ODIs are the easiest when it comes to batters… If you are playing just six ODIs in a year, then there are just six days of game time for you. How will you stay motivated?… It’s bogus talk.” Cricket
This downturn in format participation comes after the duo’s earlier retirements: Rohit Sharma stepped down from Test cricket, and both he and Kohli had already bid farewell to T20 Internationals following India’s 2024 T20 World Cup winThe GuardianCricket. Consequently, the only format they now represent India in is ODIs.
The issue around Vijay Hazare Trophy selection stems from earlier media speculation suggesting that, with limited international fixtures, the pair may need to participate in India’s premier domestic 50-over competition to remain match-ready and justify their place in the squadHindustan Times+1NDTV Sports.
Yet, as NDTV reports, Chopra doesn’t think that performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy will influence selection at all: “Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli don’t have to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy, they wouldn’t be selected based on their performance … It’s bogus talk.” NDTV Sports
Further complicating matters is India’s ODI calendar: between October’s scheduled series against Australia and subsequent ODIs against South Africa and New Zealand, there’s barely enough match time for extended domestic stints before the IPL. The Vijay Hazare Trophy is slated for December–January, overlapping with international fixtures and leaving little room for participation even if the two wanted to playHindustan Times+1Wikipedia.
Adding nuance to the debate, other voices within the BCCI believe that if Kohli and Rohit are to prove match fitness—especially ahead of the Australia tour in October—an alternative could be to feature in India A List A games, scheduled when Australia A tour India, rather than the full-blown Vijay Hazare TrophyHindustan TimesNDTV Sports.
Moreover, the BCCI has made clear that it is not in a hurry to take any call about the ODI futures of Kohli and Rohit. While age and the 2027 World Cup horizon are factors, no decisions have been made yet. For now, their ODI futures remain open—with upcoming series being the main stage for any potential confirmationThe Times of India+1.
Even coach Gautam Gambhir recently chimed in, stating that both players can continue representing India as long as they perform—while emphasizing that final selections lie with the selectors, not himThe Economic Times.
Summary
- Aakash Chopra calls speculation absurd that Kohli and Rohit need Vijay Hazare Trophy to secure ODI selection.
- India’s limited ODI schedule (just nine matches before IPL) makes domestic cricket appearances impractical.
- Instead, playing in India A List A games is viewed by some within BCCI as a more feasible option.
- The BCCI has yet to make decisions about their ODI futures; no retirements or exclusions announced.
- Gautam Gambhir supports their continuation as long as performance holds up, leaving final say to selectors.
