NEW DELHI: Indian cricket stalwarts, including Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, Gautam Gambhir—currently serving as head coach—and former BCCI secretary and ICC Chairman Jay Shah, have emphasized the importance of current players participating in the Ranji Trophy. Gambhir, in particular, has urged struggling players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to use red-ball cricket to regain form after India’s series loss in Australia.

Rohit’s decision to train with the Mumbai Ranji team has drawn widespread attention. Addressing the media while announcing India’s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on Saturday, Rohit confirmed his participation in Mumbai’s upcoming Ranji Trophy match against Jammu and Kashmir at the MCA-BKC ground starting January 23.

When asked about this during the press conference for the Champions Trophy and England ODI series squad announcement, Rohit responded, “Yes, I will.”
However, Rohit also highlighted the challenges posed by a packed international calendar, which often prevents players from participating in domestic cricket regularly.

Rohit’s last Ranji Trophy appearance was in November 2015. However, his recent struggles in Test cricket during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia have raised questions about his place in the red-ball format.
“If you go back and watch our calendar, there hasn’t been a time where we were sitting at home for 45 days and there is cricket going on. You do get that time when you finish IPL, and if there’s nothing happening right after that.
“But if you see our domestic season, it starts in October, maybe September. And it gets over by March, February-March. And that is the time India plays a lot of cricket as well,” Rohit explained.
“So, guys who are not playing certain formats and have time, and then there is domestic cricket happening, then they will play. But the last 6-7 years, I can at least tell about what has happened with me since I have started playing Test cricket regularly, which is from 2019. You hardly have any time.
“And then when you play so much international cricket through the year, you need some time off as well as a cricketer just to refresh, get your mind right, just to be ready for the upcoming season,” he added.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of playing domestic cricket whenever possible, though he acknowledged the challenges for players involved in all formats.
“I don’t think it’s a diktat. I think everyone should, when available. Sometimes, to be fair to a lot of the players, it’s difficult if you’re playing all three formats. You don’t get as much time, but there’s no doubt. You’ll probably find most guys playing this round of the Ranji Trophy. There’s been a little bit of time,” Agarkar said.
“And those who are available and fit, obviously, you expect people to play,” he added.
Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant has been included in Delhi’s squad for their upcoming Ranji Trophy matches, while Virat Kohli’s name is absent from the 21-member squad announced by the DDCA on Saturday.
Kohli opted out of Delhi’s fixture against Saurashtra in Rajkot due to a neck niggle sustained during the Sydney Test against Australia. Kohli last played a Ranji Trophy match for Delhi in 2012, against Uttar Pradesh in Ghaziabad.
Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal are also expected to represent their respective state teams in the Ranji Trophy.
Star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is reportedly set to join the growing list of India players making themselves available for the Ranji Trophy. Jadeja, who was named in India’s 15-member squad for the Champions Trophy and the upcoming ODI series against England, is expected to represent Saurashtra in their Ranji Trophy clash against Delhi in Rajkot, starting January 23.
TimesofIndia.com takes a closer look at the Ranji Trophy statistics of the players who represented India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
BATTING STATS – RANJI TROPHY

BOWLING STATS – RANJI TROPHY