Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane has put his weight behind out-of-form captain Rohit Sharma as he braces for Ranji Trophy return after more than nine years. Rohit who has struggled in the red-ball format of late will be tested by Jammu and Kashmir pacers at the BKC Ground in Mumbai starting January 23. He will walk out to bat alongside India's young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. Amidst calls for Rohit to call time on Test cricket, Rahane said that he can still do well once he gets in.
"See, Rohit is Rohit. We all know that. Aapko bhi pata hai Rohit ka character (You also know Rohit's character). I am really happy to have both of them back in the Mumbai dressing room," Rahane told media during Mumbai's training session in Mumbai on January 22.
"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.
"Once he gets in, I'm sure he will do well. He has never changed, which is a very good thing," Rahane added.
Rahane lauds 'hungry' and 'determined' Rohit
The 37-year-old managed to score just 31 runs from five innings on Australian tour. He stood down as captain for the final Test of the series in Sydney considering his diminishing returns with the bat. Despite the major slump, Rahane believes in Rohit who is still hungry to do well in red-ball cricket.
"What is important is (that) he is hungry, he is determined to do well. I am sure once he gets in, he will get a big one," he said.
"He batted really well yesterday (in) a couple of sessions so it's part and parcel of a player's career. I am really confident about Rohit."
Only one Ranji game before Champions Trophy 2025
Ahead of the three-ODI series against England starting February 6 and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Rohit is likely to play just one Ranji Trophy match. He values Rohit's inputs for the next few days on and off the field.
"I think he's only playing this game; not sure about the next game. His inputs in the next four days will be really important," Rahane said.
Rohit's Ranji appearance in 2015
In his previous Ranji appearance, Rohit batted at no.4. He scored 113 runs from 140 deliveries including 13 fours and a six against Uttar Pradesh at Wankhede Stadium. The match ended in a draw after Mumbai posted a mammoth total of 610/9, backed by Shreyas Iyer's century and half-centuries from Akhil Herwadkar, Suryakumar Yadav, Siddhesh Lad and Shardul Thakur.