BCCI Makes Vijay Hazare Trophy Mandatory for Centrally Contracted Players

Plans of Indian players to enjoy their vacation after the series with South Africa will now be disrupted. Following the third T20 match in a series being played between India and South Africa, a new order has come from the BCCI for Indian players. The Vijay Hazare Trophy is mandatory for all players with a central contract in Team India. A statement from the BCCI says all players will have to participate in at least two rounds of matches.

As a consequence, not only Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli but also other key players such as Jasprit Bumrah, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Axar Patel, and Hardik Pandya will have to take part in the domestic ODI match competition, which begins on December 24th. A BCCI statement stated that there will be six rounds of matches between the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the India-New Zealand ODI series. Now, the players and their state associations will have to decide which two rounds they will play in.

After the second T20 match against South Africa in New Chandigarh, the players were informed that playing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy was no longer optional. Since Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar joined the BCCI, Team India players have been consistently urged to play domestic cricket. Team India's poor performance on the Australia tour led to a crushing defeat against South Africa at home. Prior to that, the Indian team achieved its first clean sweep against New Zealand in 30 years.

Keeping this in mind, the BCCI wants players to participate in domestic cricket when the Indian team is not playing any international matches, and there is a long gap. This will provide experience to domestic cricketers and allow Team India players to maintain their rhythm.

Shreyas Iyer, who was injured in the final match of the ODI series against Australia, will receive relief from this BCCI order. Iyer is also out of Team India due to injury, and his chances of playing in the opening match of the IPL seem slim.