Rohit Sharma Commences Training at Wankhede Stadium with Mumbai
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Synopsis
India's captain Rohit Sharma has joined Mumbai's training sessions at Wankhede Stadium ahead of the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy. The team prepares for their home match against Jammu and Kashmir, showcasing a commitment to improving from past performances in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia.
Key Takeaways
- Rohit Sharma joins Mumbai's training camp.
- Focused preparation for the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy.
- Rohit had a challenging series against Australia.
- Uncertain participation in upcoming matches.
- Importance of domestic matches emphasized by coaches.
Mumbai, Jan 14 (NationPress) The captain of India, Rohit Sharma, has joined the training camp for Mumbai's squad ahead of the second phase of the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, set to kick off on January 23. The team engaged in a two-hour center-wicket practice session at Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday and will continue their training throughout the week as they prepare for their sixth-round home match against Jammu and Kashmir.
Rohit had a challenging performance with the bat during India's 1-3 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia. This series marked not only the first time in a decade that India failed to retain the trophy, but also their third consecutive absence from the World Test Championship final.
Rohit, who was absent for the first Test of the series due to the birth of his second child, struggled to exceed 10 runs in five innings before opting for rest during the fifth Test at Sydney Cricket Ground. He managed only 31 runs throughout the series and faced public criticism for his underwhelming performance.
Rohit's participation in Mumbai's forthcoming Ranji match is still uncertain. Nevertheless, his decision to train with the team, in consultation with head coach Omkar Salvi, suggests a possibility of playing in at least one of the two remaining fixtures. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is expected to announce the squad later this week.
Dinesh Lad, Rohit's childhood coach, has also encouraged the opener to play in domestic matches to regain his form in red-ball cricket.
"I believe Rohit has two primary objectives - first, to win the World Test Championship, and second, to clinch the ODI World Cup. He could have chosen to retire from all formats after the T20 World Cup victory but only stepped back from T20 cricket. He is not alone in facing difficulties in scoring runs. Playing one or two domestic games would aid his preparation for Test matches," Lad shared with IANS.
"The advent of T20 cricket has altered the mindset of batters. Rohit is a technically proficient player, and he was scoring well against England last year. Winning leads to praise for Rohit as the best captain, but losses bring questions about his captaincy skills," added the Dronacharya awardee.
Post the SCG Test, India head coach Gautam Gambhir highlighted the significance of Test players participating in domestic first-class cricket whenever feasible. He also declined to speculate on the Test futures of Rohit and Virat Kohli, the latter also struggling to regain his form recently.
When asked about a strategic plan for the team in red-ball cricket and whether it is time to invest in younger players, Gambhir responded, "It's premature to discuss. The series has just concluded, and we have five months to chart our course. Now isn't the right time for me to comment on that. Where will we stand in five months?"
"Sport is dynamic. Form, people, and attitudes can shift. We all understand that five months is significant. So, let's wait and see what happens before the England series. Whatever unfolds will be in the best interest of Indian cricket."
As defending champions of the Ranji Trophy, Mumbai is in a strong position to secure a playoff spot. They currently sit third in Group A with three victories out of five matches, trailing second-placed Jammu and Kashmir by just one point.
