Rohit Sharma emphasized that Indian cricketers do not take their spots in the national team for granted and are committed to playing domestic cricket. Following India’s disappointing 1-3 loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, head coach Gautam Gambhir stressed the importance of Indian players engaging in domestic cricket to stay in form ahead of crucial upcoming series.

In response, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made it mandatory for all cricketers to play domestic matches to remain eligible for selection to the national team and to retain central contracts, as reported by India Today. This decision aims to ensure players stay engaged with domestic cricket, support talent development, maintain match fitness, and strengthen the domestic structure.

Rohit Sharma last played domestic cricket during the 2015-16 Ranji Trophy, where he scored a century in the first innings of Mumbai’s match against Uttar Pradesh at Wankhede Stadium. The 37-year-old, who faced considerable criticism for his lack of form in the recent Test series against Australia where he only reached double digits once stated that Indian cricketers require time off to recharge, given the demanding schedule they face throughout the year.

Rohit Sharma highlighted the packed cricket calendar over the past six to seven years, with little downtime. He noted that while there’s a brief gap after the IPL, the domestic season runs from September to March, overlapping with significant international cricket commitments.

“For players who aren’t involved in certain formats and have some time on their hands, domestic cricket is an option. But speaking for myself, since I began playing Test cricket regularly in 2019, there’s rarely any downtime. Playing so much international cricket throughout the year means you also need time off to refresh, clear your mind, and prepare for the upcoming season,” he added.

“We’ve had discussions around it, and no one takes that time off lightly. It’s all about evaluating how a player has gone through the season, how much rest they require, and making decisions based on that. Plus, it’s now mandatory that if players have a break, they need to play domestic cricket,” Rohit concluded.