Rohit’s return to the Ranji Trophy was short-lived against Jammu & Kashmir: Lasting just 19 balls

Rohit’s return to the Ranji Trophy was short-lived against Jammu & Kashmir

The most awaited comeback of Rohit Sharma to the Ranji Trophy was momentary as he scored just 3 runs off 19 balls during Mumbai’s Group A match against Jammu & Kashmir at the Sharad Pawar Academy in BKC, Mumbai. Rohit Sharma, struggling with form for an extended period, drew considerable attention leading up to the match. He assured his participation at a press conference where the Champions Trophy squad for India was announced, replying confidently with “I will.”

Prior to the game, he seemed at ease, wore a white floppy hat and sunglasses. Rohit Sharma was observed laughing with teammates during warm-ups. However, his attitude shifted to one of concentration as he took to the field to open with his usual Test partner Yashasvi Jaiswal after captain Ajinkya Rahane decided to bat first. The decision to include Rohit and Jaiswal in the lineup necessitated leaving out Ayush Mhatre, one of the standout players this season. Ayush Mhatre has tallied 408 runs in nine innings at an average of 45.33, including two centuries in his first season.

J&K’s bowlers took advantage of the cool morning conditions in Mumbai, provided a welcome break from the previous week’s mid-30s temperatures. Auqib Nabi started the game with a loose delivery that flew for a boundary but he quickly altered his line, while Umar Nazir Mir bowled a difficult spell. Rohit started well with a single through the on-side, but Mir held him back with two successive maidens. This maintained a steady line outside off and slightly altered his lengths to restrict the batter.

Rohit temporarily broke the shackles with a couple of runs through the covers of Nabi. However, his time at the crease ended with Mir’s third over. The bowler delivered a length delivery outside the fifth stump, which drifted away slightly. Rohit Sharma attempted one of his hallmark pick-up smashes over midwicket but mistimed it, resulting in a leading edge. Paras Dogra, stationed near midfield, dashed into extra cover, called for the catch, and finished it neatly.

Rohit’s dismissal marked yet another disappointment in his ongoing struggle in red-ball cricket. His lean patch extends back to last year when he managed only one half-century in five home Tests against Bangladesh and New Zealand, alongside four single-digit scores in ten innings. During the tour of Australia, he managed just one double-digit score in five innings across three Tests. He concluded the 2024-25 Test season with a batting average of 10.93.

Rohit’s first-class numbers this season reflect a similar story. Across 16 innings, he averages 10.43, making it the second-lowest average for a top-six batter in a season since 2006 (minimum 15 innings). Only England’s Haseeb Hameed had a lower average, 9.44 across 18 innings, in 2018.

Before Rohit’s dismissal, Jaiswal also fell cheaply. Nabi, who had been moving the ball away from the left-hander, finally got one to jag back sharply. Jaiswal, caught deep in his crease, was beaten on the inside edge and struck on the back leg. The umpire had no hesitation in raising his finger, and Jaiswal walked off with just 4 runs to his name, a far cry from his successful Border-Gavaskar Trophy performances earlier in the year.

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