Rohit’s presence will inspire youngsters, says Mumbai captain Rahane ahead of J&K Ranji Trophy clash

Rohit’s presence will inspire youngsters, says Mumbai captain Rahane ahead of J&K Ranji Trophy clash

As Rohit Sharma prepares for a rare Ranji Trophy appearance after nearly a decade, Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane believes his presence in the dressing room will inspire the younger players and significantly benefit the team.

Rohit’s decision to make himself available for the match against Jammu and Kashmir comes in response to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)‘s directive for players to prioritise participating in the remaining domestic first-class season. Although it is likely to be a one-off appearance for the star batter, Rahane feels Rohit’s inputs will prove invaluable during the four-day game. His last Ranji Trophy appearance was in the 2015-16 season, where he scored 113 batting at number four in a drawn match against Uttar Pradesh.

“It’s great to have Rohit back after so many years for Mumbai. Everyone can learn a lot from him. Personally, Rohit and I have played together since age-group cricket and for India, so I think his inputs over the next four days will be extremely important,” Rahane said on Wednesday.

While Rohit’s return will draw attention, Mumbai has named a strong squad for the crucial fixture, featuring Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Shardul Thakur, and Shivam Dube. “We’re delighted to have Yashasvi back as well. He’s been performing exceptionally well at the international level. Over the past couple of years, he’s consistently delivered for the Indian team and earlier for Mumbai too. His hunger and determination to score runs will inspire the younger players in the dressing room,” Rahane added.

Mumbai is currently third in Group A with 22 points from five matches, trailing table-topper Baroda (27 points) and second-placed Jammu and Kashmir (23 points).

“They [J&K] are ranked second, but that’s the beauty of red-ball cricket. This season has been challenging. After five league games, we shifted to white-ball formats for the Syed Mushtaq Ali and Vijay Hazare Trophies. Now we’re returning to red-ball cricket, so adapting quickly as a team is crucial. Everyone has been playing white-ball cricket for the past month and a half, so it’s important to stay focused on the present and play to our strengths,” Rahane concluded.