Ranji Trophy | Really confident about hungry Rohit, affirms Mumbai captain Rahane
Mumbai skipper and former India international Ajinkya Rahane has asserted his faith in national team captain Rohit Sharma ahead of the veteran's return to the Ranji Trophy after over a decade. Rahane revealed Rohit looked good in the nets and will most likely be available for one game only.
On the eve of Rohit Sharma's first red-ball domestic appearance for Mumbai since 2012, captain Ajinkya Rahane has come out in support of his former national teammate who has endured a horrid run of late. The Indian skipper averaged a lowly 24.76 across 14 Tests last year despite managing two tons and things came to a head on the tour Down Under where Rohit scored a paltry 31 runs in five innings, forcing him to sit out the Sydney Test. Once back in India, the 37-year-old was seen training in the Mumbai nets at Wankhede before it became official that Rohit would be a part of the team for the penultimate Ranji group stage game against Jammu and Kashmir beginning January 23 at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy, in lieu of BCCI's latest policy announcement making it mandatory for national team incumbents to play domestic cricket whenever a window arises.
"What is important is he is hungry, he is determined to do well," Rahane, who led India to a series win in Australia on their previous tour, said of Rohit.
"I am sure once he gets in, he will get a big one. He batted really well yesterday a couple of sessions, so it's part and parcel of a player's career. I am really confident about Rohit.... has always been relaxed. Even playing at the international level, his character is similar. His attitude is pretty much relaxed. He knows his game really well so, no one has to tell him what he needs to do," Rahane added.
Mumbai currently sit third in their group, a point behind upcoming opponents J&K, with a clash against minnows Meghalaya set to round off their group stage. With J&K and current table toppers Baroda also yet to play, the reigning champions should qualify comfortably as long as they avoid any outright defeats. However, Rahane announced Rohit will most likely not be available for the final fixture, with the veteran set to lead India in the ODI series against England just three days after the game's projected conclusion.
"I think he's only playing this game; not sure about the next game," Rahane said of Rohit's availability. "His inputs in the next four days will be really important."
Rohit has 67 Test and 128 first-class caps to his name, making him one of the most experienced names in a star studded lineup that is expected to include Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Rahane, Shivam Dube, Shardul Thakur, Tanush Kotian, and Shams Mulani amongst others.
"As a team, individually, players are going up to them asking questions, learning from them. Once they are on the field, I am sure the players will watch them and they'll learn a lot of things from them," Rahane said of the senior players.
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