India, Dec. 27 -- Pioneered by former BCCI secretary Jay Shah, the Indian board has been hell-bent on ensuring that all centrally contracted players participate in domestic cricket. The current selection committee and team management have repeatedly reiterated the importance of the domestic circuit and the role it plays in rewarding Indian cricket.

Every Vijay Hazare Trophy season, India's premier domestic List A tournament, throws up a familiar question alongside a flood of standout performances: do domestic runs still open the doors to Team India, or are they merely a footnote in the BCCI's long-term planning?

This season's Vijay Hazare Trophy carries added significance. With the T20 World Cup concluding in March next year, India are ...