Veteran players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are set to return to domestic cricket via the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy. Although currently active only in ODIs, the pair have agreed to participate in domestic one-day matches — a clear indication of their desire to preserve form and fitness.
This move comes as the national squad begins to shape a core for the 2027 ODI World Cup. With limited ODIs scheduled until mid-next year, this has been a timely decision. The return also aligns with the long-standing policy of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which expects players to engage in domestic tournaments during international breaks.
Suryakumar Yadav’s Perspective: “Back to the Roots”
Ahead of the forthcoming T20I series against South Africa national cricket team, the India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav offered a candid view on the importance of domestic cricket. He argued that when international fixtures dry up, domestic matches offer essential competitive exposure. “Regarding playing domestic cricket, according to me, it’s important to go back to the roots.
When we are not playing international games, it serves as a good challenge to return to the domestic circuit and play there, as it is a highly competitive atmosphere,” he said during a pre-match press conference.
He further added: “If you come to internationals after playing domestic games, you stay in touch with the game. You get to learn a lot and I feel it’s the best preparation for any player. A lot of players have been playing domestic games, so it is good.” According to him, domestic cricket helps maintain rhythm, sharpness, and readiness — especially for players like Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Shivam Dube, who recently had good spells in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Stability, Not Upheaval — Team Strategy Ahead of T20 World Cup
Yadav also underlined that the team does not intend to tinker with its core structure ahead of the next T20 World Cup. He stressed that their preparation didn’t just begin recently — “Our T20 World Cup preparation started after the end of the 2024 T20 World Cup (won by India). It’s not like we can come two months before the tournament and say now we have to start preparing because such a big competition is coming.”
Over the past five to six series, India has largely maintained a consistent playing combination. Yadav indicated that there’s no appetite for drastic changes in the upcoming series or in the lead-up to the World Cup: “We don’t want to change too much in terms of combinations …
The focus is simply on the type of cricket we want to play and try when on the field.” With two months left before the T20 World Cup, Yadav said the team’s plan is to concentrate on the current South Africa series, followed by another set of matches against New Zealand, before transitioning into the global tournament.
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