Indian cricket witnessed a powerful statement on the very first day of the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Asked to return to domestic cricket and prove their continued relevance, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli did not merely comply—they dominated. With commanding centuries for their respective teams, the two modern greats reminded everyone that class, hunger, and authority do not fade easily.
Why Domestic Cricket, and Why Now?
The directive for senior stars to play domestic cricket reportedly came from head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar. The message was clear: if Rohit and Kohli were to be considered for the 2027 ODI World Cup, they needed to prove fitness and form in domestic competitions.
Both initially agreed. Rohit said yes first; Kohli followed. What happened next was vintage.
Twin Tons, One Message
On a day when centuries rained across venues, the spotlight stayed firmly on the two stalwarts.
- Virat Kohli turned out for Delhi against Andhra Pradesh and reached his hundred at a brisk pace (around the mid-80s in balls), finishing with a match-winning 131. This marked yet another milestone in a glittering List A career—his 58th hundred—reinforcing his remarkable consistency and hunger.
- Rohit Sharma, opening for Mumbai against Sikkim, was even more destructive. He blasted 155 off 94 balls, bringing up his century in just 61 deliveries. From the very first ball, Rohit attacked—12 fours and 8 sixes lit up the innings as Mumbai chased comfortably.
Together, they didn’t just score runs; they issued a statement: we’re still here, and we still rule.
Context: Pressure, Retirement, and Reinvention
The last year hasn’t been easy for either player. Following a poor Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, both Rohit and Kohli were asked to feature in the Ranji Trophy earlier this year—Rohit for Mumbai after a decade, and Kohli for Delhi after 12 years. Soon after, both stepped away from Test cricket, and Rohit relinquished the Test captaincy.
Questions followed. Could they handle the physical demands until 2027? Was age catching up? Kohli is now 37, Rohit 39. Fitness benchmarks were tightened. Expectations grew louder.
Rohit responded by reportedly shedding nearly 11 kg to stay in peak shape for ODIs. Kohli, despite living largely in London, returned to domestic cricket and let his bat do the talking.
Form Speaks Louder Than Speculation
In the recent ODI series against South Africa, both delivered strong performances. Rohit currently sits as the world No.1 ODI batter, with Kohli close behind. With both now focusing solely on ODIs, their intent to carry on till the 2027 World Cup has never looked clearer.
Their Vijay Hazare centuries only strengthen that narrative.
A Day of Records Beyond the Superstars
While Rohit and Kohli headlined the day, the tournament itself turned into a festival of centuries:
- Teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi, just 14 years old, smashed a breathtaking hundred off 36 balls for Bihar against Arunachal Pradesh—days after a 171-run marathon in the U-19 Asia Cup.
- Ishan Kishan briefly grabbed headlines with a lightning-fast century (around 33 balls), before records tumbled again in the same round.
- Bihar piled up a staggering 574 runs, the highest total in Vijay Hazare Trophy history, with three centurions in a single innings.
It was, quite simply, a day when batting reigned supreme.
The Takeaway
Domestic cricket was meant to be a test—a proving ground. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli treated it like a stage. Amid criticism, pressure, and ever-evolving selection rules, they chose the simplest response possible: runs.
If this is a sign of things to come, Indian cricket fans may safely say one thing—the road to 2027 still runs through Rohit and Kohli.
