Team India: Senior Indian cricketers Virat Kohli and KL Rahul will sit out the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season for their respective state teams. This decision comes as a result of injuries, with both players having communicated their conditions to the BCCI medical team, according to reports. Kohli has received an injection to address neck pain, while Rahul is sidelined due to an elbow injury, missing the upcoming match between Punjab and Karnataka. It appears that neither player will be available for the Ranji Trophy round commencing on January 23, as reported by ESPNCricinfo.
Kohli’s injury has been aggravated since the Sydney Test, leading him to seek treatment on January 8 after India faced a swift defeat in that series. His participation in Delhi’s match against Saurashtra is now in doubt. In light of recent developments, the BCCI has introduced stringent regulations aimed at fostering discipline and unity among players. Moving forward, players must obtain permission from the national chairman of selectors if they choose not to participate in domestic cricket. Additionally, families will only be permitted to join players for a two-week period during overseas tours, and there are new limitations on personal staff and commercial engagements. Breaches of these rules could result in bans from the IPL and reductions in retainer fees.
Despite the absence of Kohli and Rahul, other prominent players will be taking part in the tournament: Rishabh Pant (Delhi) is set to return on January 23, alongside Shubman Gill (Punjab) and Ravindra Jadeja (Saurashtra), who will also represent their teams.
When will they return?
Both Kohli and Rahul are anticipated to recover swiftly from their injuries and are expected to play significant roles for the Indian team in the future. While their absence may affect the dynamics of domestic cricket, the medical staffs are closely monitoring their recovery.