Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma participated in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, fulfilling a BCCI directive for centrally contracted players to play at least two domestic matches during international breaks. Both players completed their minimum required appearances, with Kohli scoring 131 and 77 for Delhi, and Sharma also featuring for Mumbai. Their participation, though brief, generated significant fan excitement and highlighted the board's aim to keep senior stars connected to domestic cricket and ensure match readiness. The absences were pre-planned and not due to injury or selection issues.