New Delhi: Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif criticized the decision to have Indian veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli play domestic cricket, especially with important white-ball fixtures on the horizon. He argued that these seasoned players should prioritize their international commitments, pointing to their previous successes in major tournaments without the need for domestic appearances. Latif emphasized that Rohit and Kohli should be fully focused on their upcoming white-ball series against England and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 next month in Dubai.
Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif criticized the focus on Indian veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s red-ball form, suggesting that they are being unnecessarily pushed to play domestic cricket before crucial white-ball fixtures. Latif argued that these experienced players should be given the freedom to focus on their upcoming international commitments, especially with major white-ball events on the horizon.
Rohit Sharma, the captain of India’s Test and ODI teams, featured for Mumbai in their Ranji Trophy match against Jammu & Kashmir, where he scored three and 28 runs. Despite his modest contributions with the bat, his participation in the domestic competition is seen as a crucial step to regain form ahead of upcoming international fixtures. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli is set to join Delhi’s squad for their match against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, starting on January 30, as part of his preparation for future challenges.
In addition to the star duo, several other members of India’s Test squad, who recently suffered a 1-3 loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, are also participating in the ongoing round of Ranji Trophy matches. Notable players include Yashasvi Jaiswal (Mumbai), Rishabh Pant (Delhi), Ravindra Jadeja (Saurashtra), and Shubman Gill (Punjab), all of whom are looking to regain form and contribute to their respective teams.
Rashid Latif emphasized that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should focus on their upcoming white-ball assignments against England and the Champions Trophy next month in Dubai, instead of being pushed into domestic cricket. He highlighted the fact that the packed international calendar leaves little room for players to feature in domestic competitions. Latif pointed out that both players had reached the finals of the two World Cups in the past two years without playing any domestic cricket, suggesting that their focus should remain on preparing for their upcoming white-ball fixtures.
Latif further stressed that the intense international schedule doesn’t provide adequate time for players to play domestic cricket, and that while they may play if necessary, it’s unfair to target Rohit and Kohli, urging that such pressures aren’t always needed. He referenced past cricketing legends like Sachin Tendulkar, who didn’t often play domestic matches, while players like Rohit and Virat have managed to achieve remarkable successes, including winning the T20 World Cup and reaching the ODI World Cup final, without domestic cricket. With an upcoming ODI series against England, Latif believes it’s crucial for the duo to focus on preparations suited for the challenges of white-ball cricket.
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