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One-Day Internationals (ODIs) remains the only format that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are currently active in. The duo, who announced their decision to retire from Tests in May after calling it quits in T20Is last year, will next be in action in the series in Australia which is scheduled to commence from October 19. Earlier on Sunday, a report claimed that the selectors plan to ask the duo of Ro-Ko to play Vijay Hazare Trophy in order to stay in contention for spots in the ODI setup. But the question is, will the two stars take part in the domestic 50-over tournament at all?

What are the chances of Rohit, Virat playing in VHT?

Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26 is scheduled to begin from December 24 and will go on till January 18. A little after the mid-way stage of VHT, India will take on New Zealand in a three-match ODI series that will begin from January 11 onwards. If Rohit and Virat are indeed formally asked by the BCCI to play in VHT, then it would mean that they would perhaps miss the New Zealand series which overlaps the domestic tournament.

However, that might not be the case. As per news agency PTI, a BCCI source has claimed that even if Rohit and Kohli play in VHT, it would only be for two or three games as they would surely be a part of the New Zealand ODIs. It is pertinent to point out Sharma last played in the VHT for Mumbai in 2018 while Virat did so for Delhi way back in 2013.

“Overlapping the Vijay Hazare Trophy will be the three ODIs between India and New Zealand. So even if they play the Vijay Hazare Trophy, it can’t be for more than two to three games,” the source said.

The source pointed out that both Kohli and Rohit would have played six ODIs (three against Australia in October and three vs SA in December) before the start of Vijay Hazare Trophy. In between the two series, there will also be an India A vs South Africa A series which will see three games being played in Rajkot. The source said that it would be upto chief selector Ajit Agarkar and the selection committee to decide if Ro-Ko should take part in that series as well.

“Now, will the duo want to play those three A games, or possibly two, before the South Africa series is the question. Even more important is whether Ajit Agarkar and his colleagues would want that,” the source added.