Following India’s disappointing Test series loss in Australia, discussions around the role of domestic cricket in improving player performance have intensified.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar have emphasized the importance of national players participating in red-ball domestic tournaments when free from international duties.

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This renewed focus on domestic cricket aims to provide struggling players with opportunities to regain form and confidence on challenging pitches.

Why are International players turning to domestic Cricket?

India’s underwhelming batting displays on tricky tracks during their 3-1 series defeat have been a major talking point.

Senior players struggled against pace and spin, leading to calls for more exposure to domestic conditions. Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar have also advocated for experienced players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to prioritize domestic games.

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Who is confirmed to play in the upcoming matches?

Rishabh Pant (Confirmed)

The wicketkeeper-batter has confirmed his availability for Delhi’s next game against Saurashtra in Rajkot, starting January 23. This will be his first Ranji Trophy appearance since the 2017-18 season.

Yashasvi Jaiswal (Confirmed)

Jaiswal, who impressed in the Australia series, will return to represent Mumbai in their match against Jammu and Kashmir on January 23.

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Shubman Gill (Confirmed)

Gill has confirmed his availability for Punjab’s fixture against Karnataka in Bengaluru, beginning January 23. His return comes at a time when his overseas batting form has been under scrutiny.

Nitish Kumar Reddy (Confirmed)

After a commendable debut series in Australia, Reddy is set to represent Andhra Pradesh in two critical matches – against Puducherry and Rajasthan – on January 23 and January 30, respectively.

Ravindra Jadeja (Expected)

The all-rounder is expected to feature in the second phase of the tournament, though his participation is yet to be officially confirmed.

What about other players?

Virat Kohli (Uncertain)

Kohli’s name is included in Delhi’s list of probables, but his participation remains unclear. While there is speculation about his return to the Ranji Trophy, no official confirmation has been provided.

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Rohit Sharma (Uncertain)

Despite training with Mumbai’s team earlier this week, there is no clarity on Rohit’s availability for the next round of Ranji games. His recent struggles in the Test arena have fueled calls for a return to domestic cricket.

Harshit Rana (Unavailable)

Rana, a Delhi pacer, will miss the Ranji games due to his selection in the T20 squad for the England series.

Sarfaraz Khan (Unavailable)

Sarfaraz is ruled out of Mumbai’s upcoming match against Jammu and Kashmir due to a rib injury.

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The push for Test regulars to play domestic cricket could mark a turning point in Indian cricket, reinforcing the Ranji Trophy’s relevance and improving the quality of red-ball cricket at all levels.