Virat Kohli (Delhi) and KL Rahul (Karnataka) will not be participating in the next round of Ranji Trophy fixtures due to injuries, ESPNCricinfo reported on Saturday (January 18).
According to the report, both cricketers have informed the BCCI medical staff that they are carrying niggles and will not be able to take part in the matches, starting January 23.
While Kohli is battling neck pain and had taken an injection, Rahul has an elbow issue. However, there will be a number of India stars which will feature in the upcoming Ranji Trophy matches - Rishabh Pant (Delhi), Shubman Gill (Punjab) and Ravindra Jadeja (Saurashtra).
Kohli and Rahul have another opportunity to play Ranji Trophy, with the final round in the group phase starting on January 30, but those matches end close to the start of the ODI series against England from February 6.
Notably, the BCCI has announced sweeping changes to Indian cricket team's player regulations in the aftermath of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy debacle.
India conceded the BGT 1-3 to Australia for the first time since 2014-15. Before the tour Down Under, the Rohit Sharma-led side also suffered a humiliating 0-3 whitewash at the hands of New Zealand in home conditions.
Cracking the whip against the players, the BCCI has implemented a stringent 10-point guidelines, including making participation in domestic tournaments mandatory to be eligible for national team selection and central contracts. It also warned of disciplinary action in case of non-compliance.
"Participation in Domestic Matches is mandatory for players to remain eligible for selection in the national team and for central contracts, as per BCCI guidelines. This policy ensures that players remain connected to the domestic cricket ecosystem, fostering talent development, maintaining match fitness, and strengthening the overall domestic structure. It also inspires emerging players by providing them opportunities to compete alongside top cricketers, ensuring continuity in talent progression," reads one of the points.