The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made it mandatory for all current national team players to feature in at least two one-day matches of the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy, which begins on 24 December.

It is understood that with a three-week gap between the final T20I against South Africa in Ahmedabad on 19 December and the first ODI against New Zealand on 11 January, 2026, the board wants its senior players to return to domestic cricket.

The directive has been communicated by the Ajit Agarkar-led national selection committee and follows recommendations made after India’s Test debacle in Australia earlier this year. The review had called for greater emphasis on domestic cricket across formats.

Veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have already confirmed their availability for the tournament. Other senior players, including Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, have also been instructed to play at least two matches for their respective state teams.

Barring Shreyas Iyer, who is expected to take longer to regain full fitness, the remaining players are likely to turn out for their sides.

‘There are six rounds of the Vijay Hazare Trophy scheduled between 24 December and the start of the New Zealand ODIs. It is up to the players and their state associations to decide which two rounds they want to play.

‘But after the second T20I in Mullanpur, the players were categorically told that playing the Hazare Trophy is not optional,’ a senior BCCI official said on condition of anonymity.

Exceptions will be made only if a player is declared unfit by the Centre of Excellence, although officials believe there is sufficient time for recovery following the South Africa series.

The move is also seen as an attempt to counter the perception that the selection committee and head coach Gautam Gambhir were singling out Kohli and Rohit, despite their stature in the game.

Making the Vijay Hazare Trophy mandatory for all players, officials said, underlines that the same rules apply to everyone.

Bumrah flies home for family emergency

Jasprit Bumrah returned home for personal reasons ahead of the third T20I in Dharamsala. According to sources, a close family member of the fast bowler has been hospitalised.

If all goes well, he could return for the fourth or even the fifth match in Ahmedabad. At the moment, the priority is the recovery of his family member,’ a source said.

T20 World Cup, New Zealand squads to be announced together

With the International Cricket Council deadline approaching, India’s squad for the T20 World Cup and the preceding series against New Zealand will be announced on the same day, likely in the first week of January.

‘The squad selected for the New Zealand T20Is will be the same group named for the T20 World Cup,’ the source added.