Indian powerhouse delivers major ‘morale’ verdict on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s participation in Ranji Trophy

Former cricketer Madan Lal on Tuesday said he felt “very happy” to see Indian men’s cricketers Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli playing in the second part of the Ranji Trophy. Ta. India captain Rohit Sharma will take part in the second phase of Ranji Trophy to be held in Mumbai. Kohli has also confirmed his availability for Delhi’s Ranji Trophy match against Railways, Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) officials said. Virat’s last appearance in the Ranji Trophy was in November 2012 against Uttar Pradesh, where he was dismissed for 14 runs and 42 runs in both innings by pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Madan Lal said in an interview with ANI that the presence of senior players like Rohit and Virat in first-class cricket will help other cricketers develop.

“I’m very happy that all these players (Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli) are playing in the first-class. You need to play matches in the tournaments that made you players. Whenever I get an opportunity, I will play domestic matches. You should play because the young players can learn from you. Maybe in the future these players will become great players…” Madan Lal told ANI.

He added that if Kohli and Rishabh Pant play for Delhi, it will help them reach the finals in first-class cricket.

“When players like Kohli and Rohit play, it boosts the morale of the team a lot. For a team like Delhi that is struggling to qualify, if Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant play, they have no chance of winning. So this was a very important ‘step… This rule has been there before, but we have never avoided first-class matches,’ he added.

Rohit’s return to top-flight cricket coincides with growing discussions about his future in Test cricket. The 37-year-old remains determined to continue playing in the longest format despite withdrawing from representing India in the fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney earlier this month.

Rohit’s recent performances in red-ball cricket have raised questions. During his tour of Australia, he only conceded 31 runs in five innings in three Tests. This follows a poor patch at home in 2023-24, where he averaged just 13.30 runs in 10 innings against Bangladesh and New Zealand. Under his leadership, India suffered a crushing 3-0 defeat against New Zealand. It was the first time in a series of three or more games at home.

Things started to change after India suffered a crushing 3-1 defeat to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken a tougher stance regarding the participation of India’s international stars in domestic cricket.

Earlier on Thursday, the BCCI announced a new policy for the Indian team, making it an “obligation” for them to participate in domestic matches to maintain their “eligibility” for selection in the national team and central contracts.

The BCCI said in its policy that participation in domestic cricket will maintain connectivity with the cricket ecosystem. The statement added that exceptions to participation in domestic cricket will only be considered in special circumstances.