BCCI’s big decision on Team India players. (Photo- PTI)
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has taken a big decision to promote domestic cricket. The board has instructed all the current national team players that they will have to play at least two matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. This tournament will start from 24 December 2025 and continue till 18 January 2026. However, one player of Team India has been exempted from this decree. This player will not have to participate in Vijay Hazare Trophy.
BCCI gave exemption to only 1 player
This order of the players of Team India has been received during the South Africa series. Under which the players selected in the ODI and T20 teams will have to play this tournament under any circumstances. Actually, after the South Africa series, the ODI series against New Zealand will start from January 11, 2026. In such a situation, the board believes that by using this break, senior players can maintain their edge by joining domestic cricket. This decision is also related to the poor performance of the Test series in Australia, in which it was recommended to put more emphasis on domestic cricket.
Under this rule, senior players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav will play for their state teams. Kohli has already confirmed his availability. However, Shreyas Iyer has been exempted. Actually, Shreyas Iyer had to face injury during the recent Australia tour. Due to which he is out of the field. Right now he is recovering, due to which BCCI has given him rest.
2 matches will have to be played in any case
A senior CCI official told PTI on the condition of anonymity, ‘There will be six rounds of Vijay Hazare Trophy from December 24 till the start of the New Zealand ODI series. It depends on the players and their state associations in which two rounds they want to play. “But after the second T20 match in Mullanpur, it has been clearly told to the players that playing Vijay Hazare is not optional. That means players will have to play at least 2-2 matches in any case.