The final leg of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s international careers is entering a difficult phase, with a spot in the 2027 ODI World Cup squad no longer certain. In order to make their place in the developing ODI side on the path to the main competition, the two may have to play in the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy and other List-A matches.
According to an earlier source, the legendary combination will to retire from international cricket following the conclusion of the next three-match ODI series against Australia away from home. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is ready to keep the pair in consideration as long as they play List-A matches on the side.
However, even when Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli choose to compete to take a place in the ODI team keeping the World Cup at the back of their minds, they might not have time to play all the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy. The local List-A tournament, to be played in December-January, clashes with the home season of Team India, which comprises ODI series against South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan.
According to PTI, some BCCI officials believe the veteran pair can play for India ‘A’ in the upcoming home series against Australia ‘A’. The two teams are slated to play three One-Day Internationals against each other beginning September 30, when the senior squad faces the West Indies to kick off their home season. Another comparable shadow series is scheduled for November 2025 against South Africa’s visiting ‘A’ side.
“Even if they play the Vijay Hazare Trophy, they would have already played six ODIs before that. Between the Australia and South Africa ODI series, there is an India A series against South Africa A with three List A games (50 overs) at Rajkot on November 13, 16, and 19,” a BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity (via Hindustan Times).
“Now, the question is whether the duo will want to play those three A games, or possibly two, before the South Africa series. Even more important is whether Ajit Agarkar and his colleagues would want that,” he added
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s last international appearances were in the 2025 Champions Trophy. The Men in Blue won the title by defeating New Zealand in the final in Dubai.
Virat Kohli Last Played Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2010, Rohit Sharma in 2018
Under the new standards which the BCCI has implemented since the series loss of Team India against Australia 1-3 in the Border- Gavaskar trophy, contracted players have to play in the domestic competition when available. Both Virat Kohli in addition to Rohit Sharma have played in their state sides in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season and it is their last season of the red ball.
Kohli last played in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2010, when he represented Delhi versus Services in Gurgaon. He had an 8-ball 16 while leading the team. Delhi won the match by 118 runs.
In contrast, Rohit Sharma played the knockouts of the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2018 representing Mumbai. This was in the semi-finals against Hyderabad in Bengaluru where he scored 17 runs off 24 deliveries. The Hitman missed the contest as he was playing ODIs at the time although the City boys went to the finals where they beat the Gautam Gambhir-led Delhi team to claim the title.
