Rohit Sharma’s struggles continues with 3-runs off 19 balls in Ranji Trophy match

Team India captain Rohit Sharma’s ongoing struggles with the bat continued as he managed just 3 runs on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy match against Jammu & Kashmir in Mumbai on Thursday. Facing 19 deliveries, Rohit was dismissed by pacer Umar Nazir Mir, extending his streak of underwhelming performances across formats.

Selfless Rohit Sharma getting out early to let youngsters spend time in the middle ❤️pic.twitter.com/o1CXQnqEiD

— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) January 23, 2025

This match marked Rohit’s return to the Ranji Trophy after nearly eight years. His last appearance for Mumbai came in November 2015, where he scored a sparkling 113 off 140 balls against Uttar Pradesh in a drawn game. However, his comeback innings failed to match past successes, adding to concerns over his recent form.

Mumbai faced further setbacks when Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit’s batting partner in India’s red-ball cricket setup, was also dismissed cheaply. The young opener managed just 4 runs before falling LBW to Auqib Nabi, leaving Mumbai in a precarious position during their first innings.

Rohit’s struggles are not confined to domestic cricket. In the 2024-25 Test season, he accumulated only 164 runs across eight matches and 15 innings, averaging a dismal 10.93. His highest score during this period was 52, his sole half-century against Bangladesh. This decline in form has raised questions about his consistency as both a batter and leader.

Rohit’s challenges as captain were further underscored during India’s recent Test series losses. Before the much-anticipated series against Australia, India suffered a 0-3 defeat to New Zealand at home, marking their first home Test series whitewash since 2000 and their first home series defeat in 12 years.

Despite these setbacks, Rohit rejoined the national team after the birth of his second child during India’s 2024-25 season. His return coincided with a 295-run victory against Australia in Perth under Jasprit Bumrah’s captaincy, but questions lingered about his form.

Meanwhile, other prominent Indian players also faced challenges in their Ranji Trophy outings. Shubman Gill, leading Punjab in their clash against Karnataka, scored just 4 runs before being dismissed by Abhilash Shetty. The lackluster performances of India’s star cricketers in domestic matches have sparked conversations about their readiness as the season progresses.