The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly required local cricket participation for the seasoned pair if they are to be considered for inclusion in the national team, amid growing uncertainty about Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's ODI future. Only in the 50-over format do Rohit and Kohli continue to play cricket after retiring from Tests and Twenty20 Internationals. As a result, there is now much discussion over their match fitness for selection. The topic of the pair's possible involvement in the Vijay Hazare Trophy has heated up ahead of the team selection for the South Africa ODI series.
Rohit has already notified the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) that he will be available to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, according to a report in the Indian Express.

However, Kohli has not yet confirmed that he would be able to participate in the domestic one-day competition.
"They have been informed by the board and team management that if they wish to represent India, they must play domestic cricket. They must play local cricket in order to be match fit because they have both retired from two formats, BCCI insiders told The Indian Express.
Following India's poor performance against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the BCCI issued a similar direction, and both Kohli and Rohit returned to play in the Ranji Trophy, each making one appearance.

Similar availability is required of them if they are to compete for selection in India's 2027 ODI World Cup team, even if both subsequently chose to hang up their boots before the squad selection for the England tour.
The fact that Rohit told the MCA that he might even be able to play for the team in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 event, which is set to begin on November 26, actually demonstrates the extent of his commitment.
Ajit Agarkar, the head of the BCCI selection committee, has emphasized how crucial it is for players to play domestic cricket in order to be chosen for the national squad.

"We stated a year or two ago that players should play domestic cricket whenever they are available. If you have a long enough break, that's the only way you'll be able to stay sharp and play cricket. He had stated, "If the guys are free, they should be playing domestic cricket. Only time will tell if that's possible with the international cricket you're playing or not."
In the three-match ODI series against Australia, the pair made their first appearance for the national squad since the end of the ICC Champions Trophy. Rohit scored one fifty and a century in the series, making him the player of the match.

However, Kohli was only able to reach his full potential in the series' last, dead rubber match, scoring 74 runs.

On December 24, the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–25 will begin.