Why is Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma Not Playing Duleep Trophy 2026?

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma remain two of the biggest names in modern cricket and among the best ODI batsmen in the world. Since both legends have retired from Test and T20I cricket, fans now get to watch them together only in India's One Day International (ODI) matches and during the Indian Premier League (IPL).

During the previous domestic season, Virat Kohli represented Delhi, and Rohit played for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Both stars made a strong impact by scoring impressive centuries for their respective teams. With the 2026-27 Duleep Trophy set to begin soon, many fans are wondering about Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Duleep Trophy participation and whether two of India's greatest batters of the 21st century could once again take the field.

Why Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Not Playing Duleep Trophy 2026?

The 2026-27 Duleep Trophy is scheduled to begin on August 23, but fans should not expect to see Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in action. Since the tournament is played in the First-Class format and both players retired from Test cricket more than a year ago, there is little motivation for either of them to return for the competition.

Kohli last featured in a First-Class match in January 2025, turning out for Delhi against Railways in the Ranji Trophy at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. His outing was a disappointing one, as he managed only six runs in the first innings before falling to Himanshu Sangwan. Similarly, Rohit's final First-Class appearance came during the same Ranji Trophy season for Mumbai against Jammu & Kashmir at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy BKC.

He scored three runs in the first innings and added 28 in the second before bringing his red-ball career to an end. Meanwhile, the West Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy was already announced, with Rohit missing from the list. Ruturaj Gaikwad has been named captain, while Sarfaraz Khan, Prithvi Shaw, Shardul Thakur, Tushar Deshpande, and several other established players have also earned places in the squad.