Rohit Sharma named in Mumbai Ranji Squad, set to play after 3362 Days

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India captain Rohit Sharma is set to play in a Ranji Trophy match for the first time in nearly a decade, 3362 days to be precise.

Along with rising star Yashasvi Jaiswal, he has been named in Mumbai's squad for their fixture against Jammu and Kashmir, starting January 23 at the MCA-BKC Ground in Mumbai. The team will be led by seasoned campaigner Ajinkya Rahane, as announced by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on Monday.

Rohit confirmed his participation during a press conference on Saturday while announcing India's squads for the limited-overs series against England and the upcoming Champions Trophy. When asked if he would play in the next domestic game for Mumbai, Rohit replied confidently, "I will."

The Indian skipper was spotted at a Mumbai training session on January 15, following a disappointing tour of Australia. It marked his renewed commitment to domestic cricket after the BCCI mandated participation in domestic tournaments.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, another key player for Mumbai, joined the training camp shortly after and participated in several batting sessions at the BKC Ground. This decision to feature in the Ranji Trophy comes as part of the BCCI's efforts to strengthen the domestic structure and ensure match practice for India's top players.

Explaining his past absence from domestic cricket, Rohit cited the grueling international schedule as a significant factor.

"Since I started playing Test cricket regularly in 2019, there has hardly been any time to play domestic matches," Rohit said.

"Playing international cricket throughout the year means you need some time off to refresh and prepare for upcoming challenges. However, we've addressed this now. If time permits, playing domestic cricket is mandatory," he added.

Other India batters Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer have also been named in the squad. Both Iyer and Jaiswal are part of India's Champions Trophy squad. Young India U19 player Ayush Mhatre is another exciting prospect who has been named in the squad after decent outings in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Mumbai Squad for Ranji Match

Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ayush Mhatre, Shreyas Iyer, Siddhesh Lad, Shivam Dube, Hardik Tamore, Akash Anand, Tanush Kotian, Shams Mulani, Himanshu Singh, Shardul Thakur, Mohit Awasthi, Sylvester Dsouza, Royston Dias, Karsh Kothari.