Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has raised concerns over the BCCI’s fresh diktat on domestic cricket participation after Virat Kohli and KL Rahul missed the Ranji Trophy matches due to injuries. The BCCI’s new guidelines, which came into effect following India’s underwhelming performance during the tour of Australia, mandate that players must participate in domestic matches to remain eligible for national selection and central contracts.
Kohli and Rahul Miss Ranji Matches
India’s top players Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Shreyas Iyer are also missing the sixth round of the Ranji Trophy group stage, but much attention has been on the return of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. Kohli, suffering from a neck sprain, and Rahul, battling an elbow injury, have skipped their respective games. However, their return is expected in the final round, sparking debates regarding the BCCI’s strict participation policy.
BCCI’s New Mandate
The BCCI’s 10-point diktat mandates that national players must participate in domestic cricket to ensure they maintain fitness, strengthen the domestic structure, and help nurture emerging talent. Exceptions can only be made under extraordinary circumstances, and any deviations from the rule must be approved by the Chairman of the Selection Committee. The rule, aimed at promoting continuity in talent development, was introduced after India’s disappointing performance in Australia.
Following the announcement, many Indian stars, including Kohli and Rahul, had initially made themselves available for the fifth round of the Ranji Trophy. However, Kohli and Rahul missed their matches due to injuries, raising questions about the authenticity of their absences.
Gavaskar’s Concerns on Injury Absences
Sunil Gavaskar questioned whether Kohli and Rahul’s absences were indeed due to injury or if they were opting out for non-injury reasons. In his column for Sportstar, Gavaskar pointed out how easy it has become to obtain a medical certificate for injury and challenged the system’s transparency. He also noted that the BCCI-contracted players are supposed to report to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for any injury, where BCCI experts must certify their fitness before they can resume playing for India.
He wrote: “More interesting would be what action the BCCI takes if they don’t play. Were they injured? Getting a medical certificate for an ‘injury’ is child’s play, and if they are injured, did they go to the NCA for treatment and recovery?”
Looking Ahead: Action on Non-Participation
Gavaskar’s warning draws attention to how BCCI will address the situation, especially if players skip domestic games in the future. With the Ranji Trophy being an important part of the Indian cricketing ecosystem, the governing body’s ability to enforce participation mandates will be crucial in ensuring fair competition and consistency in the sport.
Kohli and Rahul’s Return
Despite the controversy surrounding their absence, both Virat Kohli and KL Rahul are set to return for their respective teams in the final round of the Ranji Trophy. Kohli will be playing for Delhi against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, while Rahul will feature for Karnataka in their match against Haryana in Bengaluru.
The upcoming months will reveal how the BCCI handles these absences and whether the new participation rules will remain strictly enforced or subject to exceptions for the star players.
