January 18, 2025: Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, two star Indian cricketers, have informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) medical team that they are struggling with injuries and, as a result, will not be available to play for their respective domestic teams, Delhi and Karnataka, in the second round of the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season.
According to ESPNcricinfo, Kohli is dealing with neck pain. Despite taking an injection on January 8, he continues to experience discomfort, which will prevent him from participating in Delhi’s upcoming match against Saurashtra in Rajkot. Kohli’s last appearance in the Ranji Trophy was in November 2012 against Uttar Pradesh, where he scored 14 and 42 runs. Over his career in 155 first-class matches, Kohli has accumulated 11,479 runs at an average of 48.23, including 37 centuries and 39 fifties.
On the other hand, KL Rahul is struggling with an elbow issue, which will keep him out of Karnataka’s next-round fixture against Punjab in Bengaluru. Rahul’s last Ranji appearance was in March 2020, during a semifinal against Bengal, where he scored 26 and 0, and his team lost the match.
In a new policy, the BCCI has made it mandatory for all players to participate in domestic cricket to remain eligible for selection in the national team and for central contracts. This policy aims to ensure that players stay connected to the domestic cricket ecosystem, which is essential for talent development, match fitness, and strengthening the overall structure of Indian cricket. The BCCI has stated that any exceptions to this rule will only be considered under extraordinary circumstances and must be approved by the Chairman of the Selection Committee.
In contrast, young players such as Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and experienced all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja have confirmed their participation in the upcoming Ranji Trophy matches, adhering to the new BCCI policy.
This move by the BCCI aims to maintain the competitiveness of the domestic circuit while also ensuring the fitness and availability of national team players for key international fixtures.