Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are in India's ODI squad for the Australia tour. Could they return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and when did they last play?
Will Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli play the Vijay Hazare Trophy?
Rohit and Kohli are travelling with India to Australia for an ODI series starting next week, the first international series for both of them since they retired from T20Is last year and Tests this year.
There has been interest over whether the two of them are in India's plans for the 2027 World Cup, and some concern over how much match practice they will get.
At the squad announcement press conference, chief selector Ajit Agarkar said the pair might be expected to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India's domestic List A competition: “I think we made it clear a year, or a couple of years back, now, that whenever players are available, they should be playing domestic cricket. I mean, that’s the only way you’ll keep yourself sharp and playing cricket, if you’ve got a long enough break.
“Whether that’s possible with the international cricket you’re playing or not, that only time will tell, but if the guys are free, they should be playing domestic cricket.”
For the 2025-26 season, the Vijay Hazare Trophy begins on December 24.
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When did Rohit Sharma last play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy?
Rohit's last match in the competition came in 2018, and was the last List A match he played that was not an ODI. He turned out for Mumbai against Hyderabad in the 2018-19 semi-final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Hyderabad made 246-8 after choosing to bat first, thanks to Rohit Rayudu's 121. Tushar Deshpande took 3-55 for Mumbai, and Rohit took one catch off the bowling of Shams Mulani.
In the run chase, Rohit opened the batting with Prithvi Shaw, but he became the first wicket to fall, bowled by Mehdi Hasan for 17. Shaw scored 61, and Shreyas Iyer was 55 not out when rain stopped play at 155-2 in 25 overs. Mumbai won on the VJD method, and then beat Delhi in the final (Rohit did not play).
When did Virat Kohli last play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy?
Kohli's last match in the Vijay Hazare Trophy was far earlier than Rohit's – it came in 2010. At the Tata Energy Research Institute Oval in Gurgaon, Kohli, who was still 21 at the time, was captaining Delhi against Services.
He won the toss and chose to bat. Delhi ended up with 311-6 in their 50 overs, with the biggest contribution of 148 coming from No.3 and current BCCI president Mithun Manhas. Kohli batted at No.5, below Rajat Bhatia who made 56. He was out in the 44th over for 16 off eight.
Delhi went on to win by 113 runs, and earn a bonus point as well.
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