Former cricketer Madan Lal expressed his happiness over Indian cricket stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli participating in the second phase of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season. Madan Lal said that playing domestic cricket allows players to stay connected with the tournament that shaped their careers.
Rohit Sharma is set to return to domestic cricket after nearly a decade. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) included him in the squad for their match against Jammu & Kashmir, beginning Thursday, January 23. This marks Rohit Sharma’s first Ranji Trophy appearance since the 2015-16 season.
Virat Kohli is set to play for Delhi in their upcoming Ranji Trophy match against Railways, as confirmed by sources from the Delhi and District Cricket Association. Kohli’s last Ranji Trophy appearance was in November 2012 against Uttar Pradesh, where he recorded scores of 14 and 42 runs in the two innings.
I’m So Happy That Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Are Going to Play First Class – Madan Lal
Speaking to ANI, Madan Lal said that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s presence will help young cricketers, who can learn from the experience and guidance of seasoned players, to become great players in the future.
“I’m so happy that all these players are going to play first class. You need to play matches in the tournament which has made you the player. You should play domestic matches whenever you get a chance, because, the young players can learn from you. Maybe someday in the future, these players will become great players…,” Madan Lal told ANI.
If Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant Play, Delhi Has a Chance of Winning – Madan Lal
The cricketer-turned-expert said that the presence of players like Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant could enhance Delhi’s chances of qualifying for the knockout stages in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25. Lal noted that players often avoided domestic matches, unlike during his era.
“The morale of the team also increases a lot when players like Kohli and Rohit play. If a team is struggling to qualify like Delhi. If Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant play, then they have a chance of winning. So this was a very important step…this rule was there before as well. But they used to avoid it. We never avoided first-class matches,” he added.
BCCI Adopts Stricter Stance on Participation of Indian International Stars in Domestic Cricket
Rohit Sharma’s return to first-class cricket has sparked discussions about his future in Test cricket. The 37-year-old batter remains committed to playing in the longest format, even after being dropped from India’s XI in the fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He scored only 31 runs in five innings.
Under his leadership, the India cricket team also suffered a 3-0 home whitewash by New Zealand. However, after India’s 3-1 loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has adopted a stricter stance on the involvement of international players in domestic cricket.
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