Rohit Sharma Joins Mumbai Ranji Team Nets To Prolong Test Life; All Eyes on Virat

"India's Test captain resumes red-ball practice at Wankhede Stadium after a disappointing Border-Gavaskar Trophy performance."

January 14, 2025: India's Test captain Rohit Sharma is setting an example by joining the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team for a nets session at Wankhede Stadium. Reports suggest that Rohit resumed training shortly after returning from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where India faced a 1-3 series defeat.

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Rohit returned to the MCA-BKS ground for practice sessions to prepare for upcoming challenges, including the Champions Trophy. While he hasn’t confirmed his availability for Mumbai's Ranji Trophy clash against Jammu & Kashmir, the practice indicates his commitment to improving his red-ball skills.

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A source from the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) told Indian Express: "He will be coming for practice sessions with the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team, and it is still not decided whether he will play the next Ranji Trophy game against J&K. He will inform the MCA in due course."

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Rohit's last Ranji Trophy appearance dates back to 2015 against Uttar Pradesh. Struggling for form during the Border-Gavaskar series, Rohit scored a meager 46 runs in four Tests, averaging just 10.93. His decision to practice with the Mumbai team comes after India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, emphasized the importance of domestic cricket for players committed to red-ball formats.

"I would always like everyone to play domestic cricket," Gambhir said in Sydney. "If you don't give importance to domestic cricket, you will never get the desired players that you want in Test cricket."

The Ranji Trophy's next round begins on January 23, with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli being urged to use the domestic platform to regain their form. Kohli, like Rohit, also endured a tough time in Australia and last featured in the Ranji Trophy in 2012.

Tags:
Rohit Sharma, Ranji Trophy, Mumbai Cricket Association, Wankhede Stadium, Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Champions Trophy, red-ball cricket, domestic cricket.