The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made it mandatory for all current players of the national team to participate in at least two matches of the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy starting on December 24. The directive comes with a gap of three weeks between India’s last T20I match against South Africa in Ahmedabad on December 19 and the first ODI against New Zealand on January 11, 2026.
The board wants its senior players to use this period to stay fit and stay fit by playing domestic cricket. This dictate was conveyed to the players by the national selection committee headed by Ajit Agarkar.
The move is in line with recommendations from a review carried out following a disappointing Test series in India earlier this year. The review highlighted the importance of placing more emphasis on domestic cricket across formats to ensure players remain in top form.
Rohit, Kohli confirm availability for Vijay Hazare
Veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have already confirmed their availability for the tournament. Other senior players including Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav have also been instructed to play at least two matches for their respective state teams. Shreyasi Iyer is expected to take longer to get back to full fitness, but all other players are likely to represent their state sides.
“There are six rounds of the Vijay Hazare Trophy scheduled between December 24 and the start of the ODI in New Zealand. It is up to the players and their state associations to decide which two rounds they want to play. But after the second T20I in Mullanpur, the players were categorically told that playing Hazare is not optional,” an anonymous senior BCCI official told PTI.
Exceptions will be made only if a player is declared unfit by the BCCI Center of Excellence, but officials believe that after the South Africa series, the players have enough time to recover.
The move also addresses concerns that the selection committee and head coach Gautam Gambhir were targeting experienced players like Kohli and Rohit. Making participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy compulsory for all senior players sends a clear signal that the rules apply equally to all.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
December 15, 2025
