Some sort of clarity was given on Rohit Sharma’s potential participation or non-participation in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy when the Mumbai Cricket Association announced their squad for the tournament on Friday.
The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is India’s premier domestic tournament for local players. The SMAT 2025 is set to begin on November 26, with the final slated for December 18.
That it is happening right ahead of the next month’s IPL 2026 auction, scheduled for December 16 in Abu Dhabi, provides a great opportunity for Indian players who will be up for grabs in the auction to showcase their mettle on the field and attract handsome bids in the auction.
SMAT 2025: Will Rohit Sharma Play In Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy For Mumbai?
Rohit is not named in Mumbai’s squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. However, according to a report in the Indian Express, Rohit could make himself available if Mumbai qualifies for the knockout round.
Earlier this month, the same paper and the same journalist reported that the BCCI has told Rohit and Virat Kohli to play domestic cricket. Since both Rohit and Kohli are retired from Tests and T20Is, they don’t necessarily have to participate in the Ranji Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, but they will have to make themselves available for the 50-over domestic tournament, Vijay Hazare Trophy, which will kick off on December 24.
Will Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy?
The Indian Express has learned that Rohit Sharma has told the MCA and the BCCI that he will play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, but Kohli has so far not confirmed his availability.
“The board and team management have conveyed to both of them that they will have to play domestic cricket if they want to play for India. As they both have retired from two formats, they have to play domestic cricket to be match-fit,” a source in the BCCI told The Indian Express.
While Rohit has been practicing at Mumbai’s Sharad Pawar indoor academy after returning from Australia, where he slammed a match-winning century in the third ODI in Sydney, Kohli has been spending his time in London, where he majorly resides these days.
Earlier in the year, both of the Indian cricket’s superstars returned to the Ranji Trophy but soon after announced their Test retirements.
Given that the duo play only the ODI format, they will need regular match practice to keep themselves attuned to the demands of the format and top-level cricket. Their lack of cricket since the IPL came to the fore when both struggled in the first two ODIs in Australia, but their class came to the fore in the third ODI, with both playing unbeaten knocks.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar has expressed his belief that the pair should play domestic cricket in order to keep themselves match fit as they aim for the 2027 World Cup.
“You are not going to put them on trial in every game. But 2027 is a long way away, both of them play one format […] they haven’t had a lot of cricket [in recent months]. Once they start playing, then you assess as you go forward,” Agarkar said.
When is India’s next ODI series?
India have two home ODI series lined up. They will host South Africa for a three-ODI series from November 30 and New Zealand also for three ODIs from January 11.
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