Rohit Sharma returns to Ranji fold after Australia tour struggles-A step towards rebuilding form

Indian cricketing stalwart and the present skipper of the side, Rohit Sharma, stunned the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday. The reason behind it was that he joined the Ranji Trophy camp of the Mumbai team for some practice. Such a rare appearance at the domestic circuit has seen many fans and experts excited and hopeful more so in view of the increasing criticism of Indian seniors for their scant participation in the domestic competitions.

Rohit, who, along with India's other batsmen, has had a forgettable performance during India's recent tour of Australia, after a series of humiliating losses for the team in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), has decided to train with the Mumbai team. Six defeats in the last eight Test matches have left many calling for greater exposure to domestic cricket among the senior players.

Visual Delight for Fans at Wankhede

Social media went berserk with pictures of Rohit Sharma inside Wankhede Stadium, wearing Mumbai's training colours. Fans and cricketing fans celebrated the return of the 37-year-old cricketer to domestic cricket. Photos and videos of his arrival at the stadium and preparation to bat flooded platforms, with all this surmised with a question of whether he would feature in an actual Ranji Trophy match.

Rohit was seen batting along with Ajinkya Rahane, another Mumbai stalwart and an experienced campaigner. The duo, under the watchful eyes of the Mumbai coaching staff, practiced intensely, lending a boost to the team's preparations. Along with these key players, the others seen in the session included Rahane, Shardul Thakur, and Shreyas Iyer.

There was confirmation in the fact that Rohit was at the nets, but there was no clarity over his place in Mumbai's Ranji Trophy game against Jammu and Kashmir on January 23 at the MCA Cricket Ground. "Rohit will train with the Ranji team today. However, he hasn't confirmed if he will play the January 23 match. We are waiting for his decision," said an MCA official.

Mumbai Ranji Trophy Campaign

The Mumbai side is placed at the third position in Group A of the Ranji Trophy table. They are behind Baroda and Jammu and Kashmir. Still, the team can ensure a good finish with three wins in five games. Even if Rohit plays just one game, the morale and performance of the rest could well boost substantially.

This is even more strategically put as an effort to regain his lost batting form. His last outing on the bat side has been unsatisfactory considering that he managed only 31 runs in five innings during his tour of Australia and averaged so low at a bare minimum of 6.2. The going was not good over the last nine months either; he has just scored 164 runs in eight matches at 10.93, and such deplorable statistics have also pointed towards how well a player remains equipped for the game when big performances are required even led to renewing the discussions on what relevance domestic cricket offers with international cricket performance.

Reviving the Debate on Domestic Cricket

The Rohit Sharma's practice session brought back into focus once again domestic cricket. It had long been observed that a number of senior players had missed Ranji Trophy tournaments owing to this new trend of skipping domestic matches. The trend had deprived the young lot of the lagging development and the experienced cricketers of match practice experience.

Notably, Rohit has not played a Ranji Trophy match in nearly nine years, while his contemporary, Virat Kohli, has only made one appearance in the format since his Test debut in 2012. Such absences have fueled a growing perception that the domestic circuit is being undervalued.

The issue has not been kept hidden, and head coach Gautam Gambhir is among the few vocal voices about this. Gambhir has recently said, "If you do not give importance to domestic cricket, you will never get the desired players for Test cricket." The fact that remarks by senior coach Gambhir tell us is that the cricketers like Rohit and Kohli should first prove intent and willingness to be a part of the tournaments which create the standard for the young and aspiring cricketers.

A Chances at Redemption

Training with the Mumbai team might well prove to be a stepping stone to getting him back in form and silencing critics. Domestic cricket, once he goes back there, is only going to offer him that opportunity of getting to play to sharpen his skills further but will definitely also motivate a number of young cricketers. In fact, the fact that Ajinkya Rahane continues to be a part of the domestic setup even when he is playing only sporadically for the national team proves the importance of domestic cricket.

Even though they appear to be on the field less often, the insight and experience of stalwarts like Rohit and Rahane would be a great boon for the Mumbai team. Fans are looking forward to whether Rohit's domestic stint would translate into a stronger performance in the upcoming international assignments, such as the much-awaited Champions Trophy 2025.

Final Words

With the return of Rohit Sharma to the domestic fold, the debate about the Ranji Trophy being important for Indian cricket has again opened up. And that is so much more in line with things as the national team flails around in Test cricket. It only makes it more urgent for seniors to be proactively a part of the domestic circuit. Yet, there has been no confirmation about whether Rohit will arrive on January 23, but the excitement over his net session alone had created a ruffle in the air.

This may be the first of many strides to renewed focus in domestic cricket. Whether Rohit plays or doesn't play in the Ranji match, this is a step in the right direction for Indian cricket as Rohit returns to Wankhede Stadium with Mumbai. Fans as well as experts will be keeping a close watch to see how far this change will affect Rohit and cricketing landscape in general.