Discussions are intensifying over Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s absence from domestic cricket following a string of poor batting performances in India’s recent home Test series whitewash against New Zealand. Former selector Devang Gandhi highlighted Sachin Tendulkar’s dedication to domestic cricket, recalling how Tendulkar played consecutive Ranji Trophy semifinal and final matches within two weeks after an ODI series. Other ex-selection committee members also called on the BCCI to reconsider the current scheduling to support player readiness.

Kohli’s performance against New Zealand was disappointing, with only 93 runs at an average of 15.50—his lowest in a home series in seven years. Similarly, Rohit Sharma struggled, scoring only 42 runs in a series against Bangladesh and just 91 against New Zealand, his lowest performances in recent years. Many veteran players have questioned their absence from the Duleep Trophy, especially given India’s packed Test schedule.

Gandhi, who served as a national selector from 2017 to 2021, cited Tendulkar’s example, reminding that in 2000, Tendulkar played in the April heat for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy semifinal against Tamil Nadu, where he scored a double century. Days later, he played the Ranji final against Hyderabad, facing off against Mohammed Azharuddin and VVS Laxman, scoring a fifty and a century. Similarly, Tendulkar, along with Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar, and Sourav Ganguly, participated in the 2007 Mumbai-Bengal Ranji final immediately following an ODI series and flew out to Sri Lanka shortly after.

“Workload management is crucial, but if a batter is out of form, domestic cricket can be invaluable,” Gandhi said. “Playing one Duleep Trophy game could have been beneficial.”

However, Kohli hasn’t played a domestic match since a 2013 Ranji Trophy appearance for Delhi, while Rohit last played domestically in 2015 for Mumbai.

### Calls for a Scheduling Overhaul

While acknowledging the importance of workload management, former chief selector MSK Prasad pointed out the increased demands on modern players, suggesting it’s unfair to compare eras. “The volume of cricket today is vastly different from Kapil Dev or Sunil Gavaskar’s time,” Prasad noted. He proposed two measures for ensuring star participation in domestic matches: reintroducing the rotation policy to allow players to rest and rescheduling key domestic tournaments.

Prasad suggested that a practical approach would be to hold Ranji Trophy rounds just before the home Test series rather than running them concurrently. He also recommended making the Irani Cup mandatory for top players, positioning it outside the international calendar to ensure their participation.

The ‘India Cricket season, from October to March, often sees the Ranji Trophy overlapping with the home Test series. Prasad’s recommendations aim to balance international commitments with the need for domestic play, ensuring top players are match-ready and form-sharpened for major series.