Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma asked to play domestic one-dayers by BCCI: Report
New Delhi: Amid growing speculation over their ODI futures, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly asked senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to feature in domestic one-day matches if they wish to remain in contention for national selection.
“The board and team management have conveyed to both of them that they will have to play domestic cricket if they want to play for India. As they both have retired from two formats, they have to play domestic cricket to be match-fit,” The Indian Express quoted sources in the board as saying.
Both Kohli and Rohit have stepped away from Tests and T20 Internationals but continue to represent India in ODIs. The first opportunity for their domestic return could come on December 24, during the Vijay Hazare Trophy — the only one-day competition on the calendar between India’s home ODI series against South Africa and New Zealand.
According to the report, Rohit has already informed the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) that he will be available to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Kohli, on the other hand, is yet to clear the status of his availability for the domestic one-day tournament.
BCCI selection committee chief Ajit Agarkar earlier emphasised that players must participate in domestic cricket whenever they are available, noting that consistent match play is essential to staying sharp, especially after extended breaks. “Whether that's possible with the international cricket you're playing or not, only time will tell, but if the guys are free, they should be playing domestic cricket," he had stated.
Kohli (37) and Rohit (38) last appeared in the ODI series in Australia last month, where they combined for a match-winning partnership in the final game. While Rohit struck a century in the third ODI, Kohli bounced back from a slow start to score an unbeaten 74.
Rohit has reportedly shown interest in featuring in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, which begins on November 26, and has been training at Mumbai’s Sharad Pawar Indoor Academy.
Meanwhile, the Indian board is hoping to also see Kohli, who lives in London these days, playing domestic cricket.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
