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An inspiration for Kohli and Rohit: When MS Dhoni graced Vijay Hazare Trophy aged 36

Rajgeeta Yadav

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma likely to play Vijay Hazare Trophy [Source: AFP]9Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma likely to play Vijay Hazare Trophy [Source: AFP]9

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly asked Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to take part in domestic cricket again, specifically the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s top one-day domestic tournament.

The BCCI’s main reason is simple: since both Rohit and Kohli have retired from Test and T20I cricket, they now only play ODIs for India. The board wants the two senior players to stay in touch with competitive cricket and remain match-fit for future ODI matches. 

Playing in the domestic circuit will also set an example for younger players, showing that even top cricketers return to local tournaments to maintain form and fitness.

When MS Dhoni played VHT proving nobody is bigger than the game

Notably, this move echoes a similar instance involving MS Dhoni around 2017–18. During the twilight of his international career, when he was also primarily playing limited-overs cricket, Dhoni was advised by selectors to feature in the VHT to regain batting form and remain competitive. He accepted the challenge with characteristic humility, leading Jharkhand in the 2017 edition.

Under his captaincy, Jharkhand reached the semi-finals after a dream run in the tournament. Dhoni not only guided his young teammates on and off the field but also contributed significantly with the bat, scoring consistently at a strike rate of 98.8, a remarkable feat at the age of 36.

Why Rohit, Kohli should be inspired from MS Dhoni?

It has been a long time since both Rohit and Virat featured in the tournament. Notably, Rohit Sharma’s last appearance in the VHT was way back in October 2018, during the semi-final between Mumbai and Hyderabad at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium. 

Rohit opened the innings with Prithvi Shaw, but managed only 17 runs off 24 balls before being cleaned up. 

Virat Kohli, on the other hand, last played the VHT even further back, on February 18, 2010, when he was captaining Delhi against Services in Gurgaon. Delhi put up a strong total of 311 runs, led by Mithun Manhas’s 148 and Rajat Bhatia’s 56. Kohli chipped in with a quick-fire 16 runs off 8 balls. 

It is worth mentioning that Dhoni’s example serves as a valuable lesson for Rohit and Kohli. Despite being global icons, they too can reinforce the importance of staying grounded and connected to the roots of Indian cricket. Their participation would not only keep them match-sharp but also motivate the next generation to take domestic cricket seriously.