Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will not be seen in action when the 2026-27 Duleep Trophy gets underway on August 23. Both senior batters are absent from their respective zonal squads for the tournament, which will be played at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

The reason is straightforward. Kohli and Rohit retired from Test and T20I cricket over a year ago, and the Duleep Trophy remains a First-Class competition. With no red-ball commitments left on their calendars, there was never a strong likelihood of either player featuring this season.

That said, the two have not turned their backs on domestic cricket altogether. Both turned out for their state sides in last season’s Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Kohli fans can expect similar cameos in white-ball domestic events going forward, even if the Duleep Trophy stays off-limits.

Why Are Kohli and Rohit Unlikely to Feature?

The Duleep Trophy is a red-ball, First-Class tournament, and that alone rules out both players from contention. Kohli and Rohit called time on their Test careers in 2024, and their T20I retirements followed soon after, leaving ODI cricket and the IPL as the only formats where fans can still watch them represent India or their franchises.

Their focus, understandably, has narrowed. With no red-ball future to protect or build toward, there is little competitive reason for either player to turn out in a First-Class fixture this early in the domestic calendar. Their game time is now reserved almost entirely for India’s 50-over assignments.

Virat Kohli’s Recent First-Class Appearance

Kohli’s last outing in the First-Class format dates back to late January 2025, when he played for Delhi against Railways in a Ranji Trophy fixture at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The knock did not go his way — he was dismissed for just six runs in the first innings, bowled out by Himanshu Sangwan.

That match remains his final appearance in the format, and there has been no indication since that he plans to add to his red-ball résumé.

Rohit Sharma’s Last First-Class Match

Rohit’s final First-Class innings came in the same Ranji Trophy season. Turning out for Mumbai against Jammu & Kashmir at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy in BKC, he managed scores of three and 28 across the two innings before stepping away from red-ball cricket for good.

Like Kohli, Rohit has shown no signs of returning to the First-Class circuit since that game.

West Zone Squad for Duleep Trophy 2026

West Zone’s selection committee announced their squad for the tournament, and Rohit Sharma’s name was missing from the list. Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has been handed the leadership role, with Mumbai all-rounder Shams Mulani named his deputy.

The squad blends experience with fresh talent. Alongside Gaikwad and Mulani, it features Sarfaraz Khan, Prithvi Shaw, Musheer Khan, Shardul Thakur, and Tushar Deshpande, among others. Thakur, who led the side last season when West Zone reached the semi-finals before losing out to Central Zone on the first-innings-lead rule, now plays under Gaikwad’s captaincy.

When Will Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Play Next?

Kohli and Rohit were last seen in India colours during the three-match ODI series in England, a series India ended up losing. Individual form was not a concern, though — Rohit became the first Indian batter to score a century at Lord’s during the tour, even as the team fell short in the overall contest.

The next opportunity for fans to watch the pair will come when India host the West Indies in a three-match ODI series beginning September 27 at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.

What This Means for Indian Cricket Fans

For Indian cricket followers, ODI cricket — alongside the IPL — is now the primary stage to watch Kohli and Rohit represent the country. With Test and T20I cricket behind them, every 50-over series carries extra weight as one of the limited windows left to see the duo in national colours.

Domestic white-ball tournaments like the Vijay Hazare Trophy may still see occasional appearances, but red-ball events such as the Duleep Trophy are unlikely to feature either player going forward.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will sit out the 2026-27 Duleep Trophy, in line with their retirement from Test and T20I cricket. Their next assignment for India comes in the ODI series against the West Indies, starting September 27 in Thiruvananthapuram, where fans will get their next look at the two veterans in national colours.

FAQs

1. Will Virat Kohli play in the Duleep Trophy 2026? No. Kohli is not part of any zonal squad for the tournament and is not expected to feature, given his retirement from Test cricket.
2. Will Rohit Sharma play in the Duleep Trophy 2026? No. Rohit was left out of the West Zone squad for the 2026-27 Duleep Trophy.
3. Who is leading West Zone in the Duleep Trophy 2026? Ruturaj Gaikwad has been named West Zone captain, with Shams Mulani as his deputy.
4. When was Virat Kohli’s last First-Class match? Kohli last played First-Class cricket in January 2025, for Delhi against Railways in the Ranji Trophy.
5. When will Kohli and Rohit next play for India? They are set to feature in India’s three-match ODI series against the West Indies, starting September 27, 2026, in Thiruvananthapuram.