Back to Basics: When Stardom No Longer Guarantees a Spot

The return of senior Indian cricketers to domestic tournaments has reopened an uncomfortable but necessary conversation about merit, competition and power in Indian cricket. When players of the stature of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma find it necessary to play domestic cricket to reaffirm their place, it signals a significant shift in the ecosystem.

Kohli’s domestic record reflects the foundation on which his international career was built. In first class cricket, he has scored over 11,000 runs at an average exceeding 50, with more than 35 centuries across formats. In List A cricket, largely through the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he averages close to 60. Rohit Sharma’s domestic numbers are equally formidable. He has amassed over 12,000 first class runs with an average above 46, alongside a prolific List A record that mirrors his international white ball dominance. These are not players unfamiliar with domestic excellence. Their credentials were forged there.

For years, tournaments such as the Ranji Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy were treated largely as proving grounds for aspirants rather than established stars. At the peak of their careers, senior internationals often stayed away even during windows free from national commitments, shielded by reputation, past achievements and commercial stature. Stardom offered distance from the domestic grind.

That insulation no longer appears absolute. Indian cricket today is marked by extraordinary depth. Every season produces batters, bowlers and all rounders delivering consistent domestic performances and demanding attention. In such an environment, form can no longer be assumed and must be repeatedly demonstrated.

Yet this renewed emphasis on accountability also exposes a troubling contradiction. While some players are required to return to domestic cricket to secure or strengthen their place, several outstanding domestic performers continue to be overlooked at the highest level.

In recent seasons, Priyank Panchal has piled up runs for Gujarat with remarkable consistency, averaging above 45 in first class cricket and leading his side to multiple titles, yet remains uncapped. Abhimanyu Easwaran has scored heavily across Ranji seasons and A tours, maintaining an average above 45, but continues to wait for a sustained opportunity. Sarfaraz Khan, despite back to back Ranji seasons with averages touching 100 and a mountain of runs for Mumbai, faced repeated delays before entering the national setup. Even now, his case is cited as evidence of how long domestic excellence can be ignored.

These examples reinforce the perception that selection is not always driven purely by performance or domestic output, but shaped by internal preferences and power equations. Domestic cricket is meant to serve as a neutral and transparent filter, rewarding form and correcting imbalance. When applied unevenly, its credibility weakens.

The larger message from this moment is clear. Indian cricket has reached a stage where legacy alone no longer guarantees continuity. Even its biggest names must occasionally return to domestic cricket. That is healthy for competition. But for the system to be truly fair, the same standards must apply to everyone, from the most celebrated icon to the most prolific domestic performer. Only then can domestic cricket reclaim its rightful place as the backbone of a genuinely merit driven national team.