Star Indian batter Rohit Sharma had a disappointing return to the Ranji Trophy, falling for just three runs in Mumbai’s match against Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. The 37-year-old was dismissed by Umar Nazir Mir after 19 deliveries, with Paras Dogra taking the catch off a leading edge.

Rohit’s early dismissal left Mumbai struggling at 12/2 within six overs. His much-anticipated return to domestic cricket after a decade didn’t go as planned. Opening alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit was expected to anchor the innings, but both openers departed cheaply. Jaiswal was the first to fall, scoring 4 runs off 8 balls before being trapped lbw by Auqib Nabi, adding to Mumbai’s top-order woes.
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Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant also had a tough outing in his Ranji Trophy fixture, managing only one run off 10 deliveries for Delhi against Saurashtra. Playing in his first Ranji Trophy game since December 2017, Pant was dismissed by left-arm spinner Dharmendrasinh Jadeja.
Rohit Sharma out for 3 in 19 😶
Embarrass!ng #RohitSharma
— Veena Jain (@DrJain21) January 23, 2025
Rishabh Pant’s last appearance in the competition was in the 2017-18 final, where he led Delhi and contributed 21 and 32 runs in a losing cause against Vidarbha. Delhi’s batting unit faltered early, slipping to 125/6 before captain Ayush Badoni and lower-order batter Mayank Gusain steadied the innings. Badoni, who took over captaincy duties after Pant opted not to lead, scored a crucial half-century to rescue the team.
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The participation of players like Rohit and Pant in the Ranji Trophy highlights the BCCI’s recent mandate requiring centrally contracted athletes to compete in domestic matches when not involved in international fixtures. However, their lackluster performances on the opening day underscore the challenges of returning to red-ball cricket after extended periods in different formats.
With both players looking to regain form ahead of critical international assignments, including the Champions Trophy 2025, their second innings will be crucial to prove their readiness for the upcoming challenges.