Virat Kohli and KL Rahul have informed the medical staff of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that minor injuries will prevent them from participating in the next round of the Ranji Trophy, scheduled to start on January 23. According to insiders, Kohli has been struggling with neck pain. Just three days after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy concluded in Sydney on January 8, he received an injection to manage the discomfort. Despite the treatment, Kohli reported ongoing pain to the BCCI medical team, ruling him out of Delhi’s clash with Saurashtra in Rajkot.
KL Rahul, on the other hand, has suffered an elbow injury, which will sideline him for Karnataka’s upcoming match against Punjab in Bengaluru. On Thursday, the BCCI issued an unprecedented notice, listing critical guidelines for all players. One notable point mandates participation in domestic cricket events like the Ranji Trophy. Players unable to compete must now seek explicit approval from the chairman of the national selection committee—a move many view as tightening the screws on player commitments.
While Kohli and Rahul still have a slim chance of appearing in the final group-stage round of the Ranji Trophy on January 30, the tight schedule leaves little breathing room. The conclusion of that round is only a few days ahead of India’s One Day International (ODI) series against England, beginning February 6. Both stars are eager to secure spots not only in the England ODI series but also in the prestigious Champions Trophy squad. The official team lineup is set to be announced this Saturday, adding even more fuel to the fire.
Meanwhile, several seasoned international Test players are confirmed to feature in the upcoming Ranji Trophy matches. These include Rishabh Pant for Delhi, Shubman Gill for Punjab, and Ravindra Jadeja for Saurashtra. Their participation underscores the tournament’s critical role as a proving ground for national team selection. According to Cricket Exchange, fans and selectors alike will have their eyes glued to these matches, hoping to spot emerging form and resilience ahead of the high-stakes international series.
Cricket Exchange will continue providing timely updates on player fitness and selection news, ensuring fans stay in the loop as the cricketing season heats up.