The ongoing Ranji Trophy season has witnessed the return of several prominent Indian players to domestic cricket. Among them, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant were expected to make a statement with their performances. However, their outings have left much to be desired, with early dismissals and struggles at the crease.
ROHIT SHARMA'S UNDERWHELMING RETURN
India's Test captain, Rohit Sharma, had hoped to use his return to domestic cricket as an opportunity to regain form. However, his performance in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy match against Jammu & Kashmir was far from impressive. After starting cautiously, Rohit’s innings ended disappointingly. Attempting an off-side shot, he mistimed the ball, resulting in a simple catch to a fielder in the extra-cover region.
This early exit came on the back of criticism regarding his recent form, especially after India’s Test series losses to New Zealand and Australia. Rohit’s decision to bench himself during the final Test against Australia raised further questions about his form, making this Ranji match even more crucial. Unfortunately, his brief innings did little to silence the critics.
YASHASVI JAISWAL'S BRIEF STINT
Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had impressed in Australia, returned to domestic cricket with high expectations. However, his performance for Mumbai against Jammu & Kashmir was underwhelming. Jaiswal was dismissed for just 3 runs, trapped LBW by J&K’s Auqib Nabi. Despite recent success on the international stage, Jaiswal couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity to make a big score. His early dismissal highlighted the inconsistency that has plagued several Indian Test players returning to domestic cricket.
SHUBMAN GILL'S SHORT STAY AT THE CREASE
Shubman Gill, who often plays at number three for India, faced a similar fate in his Ranji Trophy match for Punjab against Karnataka in Bengaluru. Opening the batting alongside Prabhsimran Singh, Gill was dismissed early, caught behind for just 4 runs off 8 balls. As an important member of the Indian Test squad, Gill had hoped to regain form in the domestic competition. However, his early departure was a setback in his quest for consistency and runs.
RISHABH PANT'S STRUGGLES WITH THE BAT
Rishabh Pant, known for his aggressive batting style, also had a disappointing return to domestic cricket. Playing for Delhi against Saurashtra in Rajkot, Pant managed only 1 run off 10 balls before being dismissed. After a long break from domestic cricket, the pressure of finding form once again seemed to take a toll on Pant, and his struggles at the crease raised concerns about his ability to regain his rhythm.
BCCI'S DOMESTIC CRICKET INITIATIVE
To help players rediscover their form, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has mandated that all Indian international players not on national duty or injured participate in domestic cricket. The initiative comes in the wake of India’s disappointing performances in the recent ODI and Test series against New Zealand and Australia. The early exits of key players in the Ranji Trophy highlight the challenges players face when returning to the domestic fold, but the BCCI is hopeful that continued participation will provide the match practice necessary for players to regain their best form.
In conclusion, while India’s top players may have struggled in their initial return to domestic cricket, the ongoing Ranji Trophy season offers them an important opportunity to regroup and rediscover their touch ahead of future international challenges.
