Rohit Sharma returns to domestic fold after BGT debacle, bats with Ajinkya Rahane at Mumbai training session

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India captain Rohit Sharma made a surprise appearance at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday, joining Mumbai's Ranji Trophy team for a training session. His presence comes amidst growing criticism of senior Indian players for their lack of involvement in domestic cricket.

Indian team players skipping Ranji season is a factor some experts blame for India's poor Test performance, with six losses in their last eight matches. Visuals of Rohit arriving at the iconic Wankhede Stadium flooded social media as fans expressed excitement over his domestic return.

During the session, the 37-year-old Mumbaikar batted alongside Ajinkya Rahane, another experienced campaigner, as they prepared under the watchful eyes of Mumbai's coaching staff. However, it remains unclear whether Rohit will feature in Mumbai's upcoming Ranji Trophy clash against Jammu and Kashmir at the MCA Cricket Ground on January 23.

An official from the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) confirmed Rohit's participation in the nets while remaining non-committal about his match availability. "Rohit will come to train today with the Ranji Trophy team. Ajinkya Rahane, Shardul Thakur, and Shreyas Iyer will also turn up," the source told Hindustan Times. "Rohit hasn't confirmed if he will be available for the Ranji match on January 23. He will inform us in due course."

Mumbai currently sits third in Group A of the Ranji Trophy standings, behind Baroda and Jammu and Kashmir, with three wins in five matches.

Rohit Sharma's decision to rejoin the domestic circuit follows a forgettable outing in the recent Australia tour, where he managed just 31 runs across five innings at an average of 6.2. His struggles extended beyond Australia, as he accumulated only 164 runs in eight matches since September, averaging 10.93.

The India captain's form, along with Virat Kohli's similar struggles, has reignited debates about the importance of domestic cricket. Notably, Rohit hasn't played a Ranji Trophy match in nine years, and Kohli has made just one appearance in the format since his Test debut in 2012.

India's head coach Gautam Gambhir recently emphasized the need for players to prioritize domestic cricket. "If you don't give importance to domestic cricket, you will never get the desired players for Test cricket," he stated, urging senior players to lead by example.