BCCI makes big decision regarding careers of ‘underperforming’ Kohli, Rohit Sharma

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made a major decision regarding the future of underperforming captain Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli. 

According to reports, both players have been instructed to return to domestic cricket following their poor performances against Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Australia.

The BCCI held a review meeting to discuss the Indian team’s recent struggles in Test cricket, especially during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) in Australia. Both players’ lackluster performances were a key topic during said meeting, report said, claiming it led to the decision that all players must now play domestic cricket, such as the Ranji Trophy, to be eligible for national selection.

BCCI has made it clear that past performances, seniority or star power will no longer guarantee Indian cricketers a spot on the Test team, it was reported.

While the new policy marks the end of picking players based on their reputation alone, fans are in for a treat as they will get to see Sharma return to the Ranji Trophy after 10 years and Kohli after 13 years.

Kohli last played a match of India’s premier domestic first-class cricket championship in November 2012 and hasn't participated in any domestic tournament since 2013. Sharma’s last Ranji Trophy appearance was in 2015, and he hasn't played domestic cricket since 2018.

Earlier, Kohli scored a mere 190 runs in five matches during the Australian tour whereas Sharma only scored 31 runs in three matches. The unsatisfactory performances were yet another episode of the series of disappointments for Indian cricketing fans.