Published on: Oct 12, 2026 4:58 pm IST|Updated on: Oct 12, 2026 5:22 pm IST
Indian cricket stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are set to return to domestic cricket to sharpen their preparations for the perennial 2027 World Cup. The prolific duo is set to return to domestic 50-over cricket in the upcoming 2026-27 Vijay Hazare Trophy. Rohit will represent his home state team, Mumbai, while Kohli is slated to turn out for home team Delhi.
The decision comes as part of the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) mandatory directive requiring centrally contracted senior players to participate in domestic tournaments when they are not playing international cricket. With a keen eye on the 2027 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup, the participation of Rohit and Virat in the Vijay Hazare Trophy will be a massive step.
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With both Rohit and Virat retired from T20Is and Test cricket, ODI remains their only priority. With a flagship event like the ODI World Cup lined up for October-November next year in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, both the batting stalwarts are willing to turn their focus to every limited opportunity they get to sharpen themselves ahead of the mega event next year. Not only Virat and Rohit, but BCCI directives ensure that all available senior players remain actively involved in domestic cricket whenever they aren’t playing any international cricket.
For the second straight year, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be representing Mumbai and Delhi, respectively, in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. On the opening day of the last season of the tournament, Rohit smashed 155 runs off just 94 balls against Sikkim, whereas on the same day, Virat Kohli guided Delhi to a scintillating win over Andhra Pradesh with a brilliant 131 off 101 deliveries. He anchored the chase in his trademark style to get Delhi off the mark on the points table.
Expect another run-filled season for both the stalwarts as they prepare for a grueling year of ODI cricket, which ultimately leads to the 2027 ODI World Cup in October-November to be co-hosted by South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
Rohit Sharma has officially communicated his availability to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) and is expected to join the squad starting December 24 for select rounds of the tournament. Meanwhile, the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) president Rohan Jaitley has indicated that Virat Kohli will be available for Delhi at some stage of the tournament but remains subject to international workload management and scheduling.
For both legends, playing domestic 50-over matches offers a solid platform to refine their game and prepare well for their future ODI assignments, ensuring they remain in peak physical and technical form as Team India builds toward its World Cup ambition in 2027. All RO-KO fans are thrilled to see their favorites in action, whether it’s domestic or international cricket, as they eagerly wait for their heroes to take the field.