 "File image of India Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma. PTI")
Rohit Sharma has come under heavy criticism of late for his dismal numbers as batter as well as Test captain, with many fans calling for the ‘Hitman’ to retire from the Test format along with star batter Virat Kohli, who has also been struggling in recent months. Many a former cricketer had advised both Rohit and Kohli to return to domestic cricket and regain their form by playing in the Ranji Trophy that returns to action later this month.
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Rohit, for one, appears to have taken the suggestion of returning to domestic cricket seriously. After “expressing interest” in training with defending Ranji champions Mumbai , the ‘Hitman’ was seen arriving at the Wankhede Stadium with his kit bag on Tuesday to train with the team led by long-time India teammate Ajinkya Rahane.
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Impact Shorts
More ShortsWhile Rohit had approached Mumbai head coach Omkar Salvi for training with the team and showed up for practice on Tuesday, he is yet to confirm his participation in the upcoming Ranji fixtures.
The 42-time champions face Jammu and Kashmir in a crucial game at BKC that begins on 23 January and could decide which team joins Baroda in the quarter-finals from Group A. Mumbai then face Meghalaya in their final Ranji fixture that starts on 30 January.
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Rohit retired from Twenty20 Internationals along with Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja after India’s triumph in the T20 World Cup last year, and thus will not be part of the T20I series against England that takes place between 22 January and 2 February.
With the ODI series against England taking place between 6 and 12 February, Rohit could take part in both of Mumbai’s remaining Group A fixtures should he choose to.
Rohit has scored just one half-century in Tests since September and could manage a meagre 31 runs at an average of 6.2 in the recently-concluded tour of Australia, in which India surrendered the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a 1-3 series defeat against the Pat Cummins-led hosts.