In a much-anticipated return to first-class cricket after a decade, Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma‘s stint with Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy was unfortunately cut short. Rohit, who has been struggling with form in Test cricket over the last few months, was dismissed for just 3 runs off 19 balls against Jammu and Kashmir at the Wankhede Stadium on January 23, 2025.
Aiming for form: Rohit Sharma’s comeback with Mumbai
Rohit had joined Mumbai’s training camp with the aim of rediscovering his form, especially after his recent challenges in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 where he managed only 31 runs in five innings. His participation was part of a broader strategy to ensure that experienced players engage with domestic cricket, a move endorsed by India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir, who emphasized the importance of Test players playing first-class cricket.
Rohit’s return to domestic arena ends with a cheap dismissal
Rohit was spotted walking onto the field with determination, dressed in Mumbai’s traditional white cricket attire. The scoreboard at the time of his dismissal showed Mumbai at 12/1, with Rohit coming in to bat after the fall of an early wicket.
Facing the bowler Umar Nazir Mir, Rohit attempted to play a defensive shot, but an edge off his bat found its way to the slips, where it was caught by Paras Dogra, ending his brief return to the Ranji Trophy. The dismissal was a classic example of how a single mistake can alter the course of a batters’ innings, especially in the challenging conditions of domestic cricket.
Here is the video:
@itsmihir412 pic.twitter.com/PXawxTr7Wi
— stuud (@stuud18) January 23, 2025
Hopes for a strong comeback dashed in Ranji Trophy clash
The match against Jammu and Kashmir was significant as it was part of the second phase of the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, with Mumbai gearing up for their sixth-round fixture. Rohit’s keenness to train with the Mumbai squad under head coach Omkar Salvi had sparked hopes among fans and cricket pundits that this might be the platform for the captain to regain his touch in longer format cricket. However, the outcome was far from what was hoped for.
