Indian cricket stars Virat Kohli and KL Rahul have informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that they will not be available for the next round of the Ranji Trophy, starting January 23, due to injury concerns.
Kohli and Rahul Notify BCCI About Their Injuries
According to a report by ESPNCricinfo, Virat Kohli is experiencing neck stiffness, while KL Rahul is dealing with an elbow issue. Both players have communicated with the BCCI’s medical team, citing these problems as the reason for their unavailability to represent their state teams in the upcoming matches.
Mandatory Participation in Domestic Cricket
The BCCI recently introduced a policy requiring centrally-contracted players to participate in domestic cricket to remain eligible for national team selection and central contracts. Players unable to comply must seek permission from the chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar, and head coach, Gautam Gambhir.
Virat Kohli’s Neck Stiffness Persists
Kohli, who was named in Delhi’s squad for the match against Saurashtra in Rajkot, has been ruled out due to persistent neck pain. The injury first surfaced during the fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney. Following the series, Kohli received a pain-relief injection on January 8, 2025. Despite this, the 36-year-old continues to experience discomfort and will not be able to take the field in the upcoming game.
KL Rahul’s Elbow Injury
KL Rahul, the right-handed batter representing Karnataka, is nursing an elbow injury and has also been ruled out of his team’s match against Punjab.
Future Opportunities for Participation
Kohli and Rahul will have another opportunity to play in the Ranji Trophy when the final round of the group phase begins on January 30. This phase is expected to conclude shortly before the ODI series against England.
Other Players Available for the Next Round
While Kohli and Rahul will miss this round, several other prominent players, including Rishabh Pant (Delhi), Yashasvi Jaiswal (Mumbai), and Shubman Gill (Punjab), are set to feature in the Ranji Trophy matches beginning January 23.
Both Kohli and Rahul are likely to be named in India’s squad for the upcoming ODI series against England and the Champions Trophy.
