Rohit Sharma 'expresses interest' in training with Mumbai team after forgettable tour of Australia

There were demands for struggling Indian stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to go back to domestic cricket after their horrid run with the bat in recent months, including and especially the tour of Australia. Rohit’s last appearance in domestic cricket was in the Duleep Trophy in 2016 while former India captain Kohli has not made an appearance since Delhi’s Ranji Trophy match against Uttar Pradesh in 2012.

Rohit, however, appears to have taken suggestions to improve his game in domestic cricket before making another Test appearance seriously, although in this case, it’s not confirmed whether he will actually be playing a First-Class match or not.

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According to PTI, the ‘Hitman’ has “expressed interest” in training with the Mumbai cricket team ahead of their next fixture – against Jammu and Kashmir in Mumbai starting 23 January.

“Rohit has expressed his interest in training with the Mumbai Ranji team. He has approached the head coach Omkar Salvi and made enquiries about when they are going to train for the next Ranji match, which is still 10 days away,” a Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

J&K and Mumbai currently are ranked second and third respectively in Elite Group A, and the upcoming fixture at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy in Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex could be a virtual shootout between the two teams as far as a spot in the quarter-finals is concerned.

Mumbai are scheduled to begin training on Tuesday, and it remains to be seen if Rohit will confirm his first domestic appearance in more than eight years or not. With the ODI series against England starting on 6 February, Rohit could also play Mumbai’s final group match – also a home game against Meghalaya starting 30 January – should he choose to.

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Rohit, who has scored just one half-century since September, had scored just 31 runs in three Tests during the tour of Australia, opting out of the fifth and final Test in Sydney and handing over the reins of the team to senior pacer Jasprit Bumrah.

The ‘Hitman’ has also had a torrid time as captain, losing six of his last seven Tests including a historic 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand at home.