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New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made it compulsory for all the current national team players to play in at least two one-day matches of the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy starting December 24.
The Board reportedly wants the senior players to play domestic cricket during the gap of three weeks between the last T20I against South Africa in Ahmedabad (December 19) and the first ODI against New Zealand (January 11, 2026).
The Ajit Agarkar-led national selection committee has communicated the diktat to the players.
This developement is part of the review plan that was set in motion after the Indian Test team's debacle in Australia earlier this year. The review had sought top priority on domestic cricket across formats.
Seasoned campaigners like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have already confirmed their availability for the tournament. Likewise, other senior players like Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav will now have to play at least two games for their respective teams, as per the new diktat.
Shreyas Iyer, who is recovering from a spleen injury, will not feature in the 50-over domestic competition.
"There are six rounds of Vijay Hazare Trophy scheduled between December 24 and start of the New Zealand ODIs. It is up to the players and their state associations to decide which two rounds they would like to play.
"But after the second T20I in Mullanpur, the players have been categorically told that playing Hazare isn't optional," a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
BCCI's decision to make the Vijay Hazare Trophy mandatory for all is an indicator that the new rules will apply to everyone.
India's squad for the T20 World Cup and the preceding series against New Zealand will be announced on the same day, in the first week of January.
(With PTI Inputs)
