As it seems, Rohit Sharma‘s red-ball career might be over. After just 3 runs in the first innings, Rohit was expected to go all guns blazing in the second innings. As he began, he seemed destined for a big score. He went on the offensive, hitting Umrar Nazir for a six in Mumbai vs J&K clash at the BKC ground. The India captain followed it up with two boundaries in the same over. But his stay lasted only for 35 deliveries. It included two fours and three sixes before it was cut short by lanky Yudhvir Singh. Rohit Sharma’s Ranji Trophy comeback ended with just 3 and 28, raising a big question mark on his Test cricket future.
The BCCI made it compulsory for the Indian stars to play domestic cricket. After a torrid outing in the Border Gavaskar Trophy where he averaged 6.20 in five innings, Rohit put his hand up first to return to the Ranji Trophy after a decade. That he forced a youngster Ayush Mhatre out of the team to secure a place in the Mumbai Playing XI would give him a hard time. Mhatre was Mumbai’s player of the match in the last Ranji encounter as he scored a century. But replacing Mhatre did not help Rohit in any way. He lasted 19 deliveries, scoring just 3 runs in his first innings.
Strong start, poor end for Rohit
Rohit Sharma was determined to make a strong statement. After Mumbai bowled out Jammu and Kashmir early on Day 2, he walked the Hitman to the crease. He was accompanied by fellow opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. The duo went on to unleash their carnage early on the innings, stitching a strong 50-run stand between them.
Rohit Sharma hammered 2 fours and 3 sixes to showcase that he still has the calibre to play big shots with relative ease. But his aggression was shortlived before he was dismissed. Yudhvir Singh went on to produce the breakthrough as Rohit was eventually dismissed on 28 runs from 35 balls with a strike rate of 80.
When Rohit started his knock, his strike rate was well above 100. But gradually he started to feed on more deliveries. All in all it was not a strong return for the Hitman. As things stand, Rohit would be desperate to get some strong runs under his belt in the next Ranji Trophy game.
