THIS former Indian great recommends Rohit Sharma to play in Ranji Trophy after Sydney Test withdrawal

New Delhi: Rohit Sharma stepped down from the Sydney Test due to a dip in his form but has confirmed that he won’t retire or leave the captaincy. An Indian cricket legend has recommended that Rohit focus on playing in the Ranji Trophy to regain his form and solidify his future in the game.

Rohit Sharma’s tour of Australia was disappointing with the bat, managing only 31 runs in three matches. After a series of failures, he decided to stand down from the Sydney Test. Alongside his batting struggles, Rohit faced challenges in leading the team. An India legend has since recommended that Rohit focus on playing the Ranji Trophy to rebuild his form and solidify his future with the team.

India started their Australia tour with a win under Jasprit Bumrah but struggled under Rohit’s captaincy. Sunil Gavaskar advised Rohit to focus on playing the Ranji Trophy if Mumbai qualifies for the knockouts to regain his form. Despite limited opportunities for four-day games, Gavaskar suggested it would be beneficial for Rohit to play more cricket at the domestic level.

Sunil Gavaskar acknowledged that it may seem unfair to other players who have contributed in earlier stages, but emphasized that in the best interest of Indian cricket, Rohit Sharma should play, especially if Mumbai qualifies for the knockout stages of the Ranji Trophy. Gavaskar believes this would provide Rohit with much-needed time in the middle to regain form.

Rohit Sharma’s potential return to the Ranji Trophy remains uncertain as the tournament resumes on January 23. Mumbai will face Jammu and Kashmir, followed by Meghalaya. Rohit, having retired from T20I cricket, has no commitments when these matches take place. The 5 T20Is between India and England will overlap, but it’s unclear if Rohit will play in the Ranji Trophy. This will be the first time since 2012 that Virat Kohli may also play in the competition, as he has not featured in it for years.