The Ranji Trophy 2024/25 season will continue later this month. While a lot of experts of cricket want the inclusion of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to help the former two get back their mojo from a below-par Australia tour. Even the head coach Gautam Gambhir silently encouraged them to return to the domestic scene for some more confidence building.

India Needs To Build Stronger Test Team

“On 23rd February India will earn a lot of praise by beating Pakistan (in Champions Trophy) and everyone will say we are a champion team in white-ball cricket. But if India want to team the World Test Championship then we will have to make a Test match team, will have to learn to play on seaming tracks. The truth is that we are just white-ball bullies. We are lagging too far behind. If we have to win WTC, then players will have to play domestic cricket on turning tracks, will have to practice on seaming tracks, otherwise we will not be able to win,” he said in a video posted on his social media page.

Also Read: ‘He Made Batting Look So Much Harder’: Ricky Ponting Goes Gaga Over Jasprit Bumrah

Kaif Not Expecting Kohli And Sharma’s Appearance In Ranji Trophy

However, former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif questioned whether Kohli and Rohit would feature in the Ranji season, considering the hectic international schedule. He said that players generally take rest, and with India’s white-ball series against England and the Champions Trophy, both senior players might need time to recover.

“India lost 1-3, and I think this is a wake-up call, because now we have to pay our attention towards Test cricket. It’s not just Gautam Gambhir who is at fault. All players get the chance to play Ranji Trophy, but it gets tiresome for the players and they prefer rest over playing Ranji Trophy. They don’t play Ranji Trophy, they don’t play practice matches then how will they become better players? It’s tough to play on turning tracks in India and tougher to play on seaming tracks in Australia and South Africa. So if you don’t practice well, WTC will keep eluding you. What has happened, it has happened for the good and now Team India needs to work hard in Test cricket,” Kaif added.

Virat Kohli And Rohit Sharma’s Struggles In India

Kohli’s poor run, averaging just 30 since 2022, continued in Australia, where he scored only 190 runs in nine innings, including a century in Perth. Rohit fared even worse, with just 31 runs at a dismal 6.20 average.

Kohli and Rohit had already missed the first half of the Ranji season in October for similar reasons, which drew criticism after they skipped the Duleep Trophy despite limited international duties post-T20 World Cup.

Also Read: Jasprit Bumrah Achieves Sachin Tendulkar’s Feat Following ‘Memorable’ BGT 2024-25 Performance

The Test Team Focus

Experts are urging India to build a stronger Test side with the new World Test Championship cycle starting in June. Ranji participation by the duo may be helpful, but the schedule is overcrowded and does not allow for too much domestic cricket.