Former cricketer Madan Lal on Indian cricket stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for 2024-25 Ranji Trophy second round Stage competition expresses pleasure. Madan Lal said playing domestic cricket allows players to stay in touch with the events that shaped their careers.
Rohit Sharma is set to make his comeback to domestic cricket after almost a decade. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has included him in the squad for the match against Jammu and Kashmir starting from Thursday, January 23. This marks Rohit Sharma’s first Ranji Trophy appearance since the 2015-16 season.
Sources in the Delhi and District Cricket Association confirmed that Virat Kohli will represent Delhi in the upcoming Ranji Trophy against Railways. Kohli last played in the Ranji Trophy against Uttar Pradesh in November 2012, scoring 14 and 42 runs in two innings.
I am happy that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will play in the first class – Madan Lal
Speaking to ANI, Madan Lal said the presence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will help young cricketers learn from the experience and guidance of seasoned players to become future cricketers Great player.
“I’m delighted that all these players are going to play a top-notch game. You need to play games and that makes you a player. Whenever you get the chance, you should play domestic games because, young players can learn and maybe one day in the future, These players will become great players…” Madan Lal told ANI.
Delhi has a chance to win if Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant play – Madan Lal
The cricketer-turned-expert said the emergence of players like Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant can boost Delhi’s chances of qualifying for the knockout rounds of the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy. Lal noted that unlike his era, players often shunned domestic competitions.
“When players like Kohli and Rohit come on, the morale of the team also improves a lot. If a team struggles in the qualifications like Delhi did. If Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant come on , then they have a chance to win, so this is a very important step… This rule has been there before, but we have never avoided first-class games,” he added.
BCCI takes tougher stance on Indian international stars participating in domestic cricket
Rohit Sharma’s return to first-class cricket has sparked discussions about his future in Test cricket. The 37-year-old batsman remains committed to playing the longest format even after being dropped from the India XI for the fifth Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test. He scored just 31 points in five innings.
Under his leadership, the Indian cricket team also suffered a 3-0 home defeat by the New Zealand team. However, after India lost 3-1 to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Board of Control for Cricket in India adopted a stricter stance on the participation of international players in domestic cricket.
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