In a major development, the BCCI has reportedly issued a diktat, making it mandatory for all current national team players to participate in at least two one-day matches of the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy.

According to news agency PTI, the board wants all its senior players to play domestic cricket, considering the gap of three weeks between the last T20I against South Africa in Ahmedabad (December 19) and the first ODI against New Zealand (January 11, 2026).

The diktat has been communicated to the players by the national selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar.

This is in line with the recommendations of a review undertaken after the BGT debacle in Australia earlier this year. The review had made sweeping changes to Indian cricket team's player regulations, including making participation in domestic tournaments mandatory.

While senior batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have already confirmed their availability for the one-day tournament, other stars such as Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav have also been asked to turn up for their respective state sides in at least two games.

Besides Shreyas Iyer, who will take more time to regain fitness, others are likely to represent their domestic teams.

"There are six rounds of the Vijay Hazare Trophy scheduled between December 24 and the start of the New Zealand ODIs. It is up to the players and their state associations to decide which two rounds they would like to play.

"But after the second T20I in Mullanpur, the players have been categorically told that playing Hazare isn't optional," a senior BCCI official told PTI on condition of anonymity.

As per the report, exemptions will be made only if a player is declared unfit by the Centre of Excellence. However, officials believe there is enough time to recover after the South Africa series.

“The diktat would also help counter the narrative that the selection committee and head coach Gautam Gambhir only want to make an example out of Kohli and Rohit, who have nothing to prove,” the report further stated.

The move to make the Vijay Hazare Trophy mandatory for all suggests that rules will be the same for everyone.

(With PTI Inputs)