Former Indian captain Kapil Dev expressed strong disapproval on Tuesday regarding the highly publicized return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to domestic cricket. The two seasoned players participated in their first Ranji Trophy matches in 12 and 9 years, respectively, last month, following a new directive from the BCCI concerning participation in domestic competitions. Kapil raised a pertinent question about the circumstances surrounding Kohli and Rohit's return, issuing a caution to the BCCI's chief selector, Ajit Agarkar.

In response to a lackluster performance by India's key batters in Test cricket, the BCCI mandated that all contracted players must engage in domestic cricket to remain eligible for selection to the national team. Consequently, Kohli and Rohit, along with other regulars, made a notable comeback to the Ranji Trophy last month. Rohit participated in a home match for Mumbai against Jammu and Kashmir, while Kohli played in Delhi's final league match against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

During an appearance on the YouTube program 'Cricket Adda,' Kapil remained critical of the circumstances surrounding Rohit and Kohli's return to the red-ball format, advocating for a more rigorous system from the BCCI to ensure that all players participate in domestic cricket. He emphasized his point by questioning whether the two prominent players would have been compelled to play in the Ranji Trophy had they performed well in Australia.

"If we consider Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma playing in the Ranji Trophy after 12 years, how can that be justified? It is not a favorable situation. This is not merely about their performance. Regardless of whether they score runs or not, participation in domestic cricket is essential. Therefore, stronger measures must be implemented. My question is, had we achieved victory or had Rohit or Kohli made significant contributions, would they have participated in the Ranji Trophy? The focus should not solely be on performance; rather, the system needs to be reinforced. Whether one scores zero or a hundred runs, it is imperative to engage in cricket within the established framework," he stated.

Kapil Dev has his say on BCCI's 'wives, family rule'

Following the series defeat in Australia, the BCCI implemented a new regulation aimed at limiting family time for Indian players during tours. This regulation stipulates that players' spouses or family members are prohibited from accompanying them for a specified duration.

While he did not attribute the team's poor performance solely to this policy, Kapil expressed his support for the rule.

He stated, "It is not inappropriate to bring your wives on tours; however, I believe that for a one-month tour, they should not be permitted for the initial 20 days to allow players to bond as a cohesive unit. Likewise, for a three-month tour, players should ideally spend the first month solely with their teammates. Additionally, the team should travel together, as this is not an individual sport."

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