India's batting maestros Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be making their much-awaited comeback in the Ranji Trophy. India captain Rohit Sharma will make his return to domestic cricket by playing for Mumbai in a Ranji Trophy match against Jammu & Kashmir, starting on January 23 at the Wankhede Stadium. He confirmed his availability for the match during a press conference alongside chief selector Ajit Agarkar when the Team India's Champions Trophy squad was announced.
All eyes on Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli's Ranji Trophy return
Rohit Sharma acknowledged that he hasn't actively participated in domestic cricket for an extended period. He attributed this absence to the demanding international cricket schedule over the past 6-7 years.
His teammate, Virat Kohli has also confirmed his participation in the Ranji Trophy, representing Delhi against Railways on January 30. He will miss the initial match against Saurashtra due to a neck sprain. Sports Tak reported that Kohli has informed DDCA that he is available to play the next round of Ranji Trophy match for Delhi against Railways. Both Kohli and Rohit had a horrendous outing in the Test series against Australia. While Kohli managed to score just 190 runs in 9 innings despite a century in Perth Test, Rohit amassed just 31 runs in three matches.
Meanwhile, former India's star batter Mohammad Kaif has commended the return of these senior players to domestic cricket. Notably, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made participation in the Ranji Trophy mandatory for all centrally contracted players. Following India's dismal outing in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series against Australia, BCCI issued a stern warning to players, emphasising serious consequences for non-compliance.
The introduction of stricter rules and regulations proved effective in ensuring the participation of top cricketers in the Ranji Trophy. Players such as Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant are set to feature in the tournament from January 23rd.
Furthermore, players like Mohammed Siraj and KL Rahul are expected to join their respective state teams – Hyderabad and Karnataka – for the second contest of the final round, commencing on January 30th.
Mohammad Kaif upbeat about Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma's return to domestic cricket
Kaif said that it's great news that prominent players like Virat and Rohit will be returning to the Ranji Trophy. He believes their participation will not only enhance the quality of the tournament but also inspire aspiring cricketers across the country.
“Great news that stars like Virat and Rohit will be playing Ranji Trophy. Giving back to state that supported them when no one knew them and spending time with youngster is what keeps the system going,” Kaif wrote on X.