Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Forced to Return to Domestic Cricket: Rashid Latif’s Bold Claim

Former Pakistan cricketer criticises BCCI for targeting senior players ahead of crucial white-ball tournaments

January 26, 2025: Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif has stirred controversy by claiming that Indian cricket stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are being “forced” to play domestic cricket due to their recent red-ball performances. According to Latif, the duo should focus on their upcoming international commitments, including the ODI series against England and the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai next month.

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India’s Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma recently participated in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy clash against Jammu & Kashmir, where he managed scores of 3 and 28. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli is set to join Delhi’s squad for their upcoming match against Railways at Arun Jaitley Stadium, starting January 30.

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Other players from the Test squad, who faced a 1-3 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, are also featuring in the latest Ranji Trophy round. These include Yashasvi Jaiswal (Mumbai), Rishabh Pant (Delhi), Ravindra Jadeja (Saurashtra), and Shubman Gill (Punjab).

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Latif criticised the packed international schedule, which he claims leaves little room for players to participate in domestic cricket. He questioned why Sharma and Kohli are being compelled to play in domestic matches, citing their prior success without significant domestic appearances. “Rohit and Virat have won the T20 World Cup and reached the final of the ODI World Cup without playing domestic cricket,” Latif told IANS.

Latif further added that the focus should remain on their preparation for the three-match ODI series against England, starting February 6, as well as the Champions Trophy. “White-ball cricket is a completely different game, and they should prioritize those formats,” he said.

India currently leads the five-match T20I series against England after an emphatic win at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli expected to be key players in the upcoming white-ball fixtures, their return to domestic cricket has sparked debate about its necessity.

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Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rashid Latif, Indian Cricket, Domestic Cricket, Ranji Trophy, BCCI, ODI Series, Champions Trophy, Indian Cricket Team, Border-Gavaskar Trophy