The 2024-25 season of the Ranji Trophy is poised to resume action less than 24 hours after a two-month hiatus, during which the BCCI hosted the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy, showcasing domestic 20-over and 50-over cricket. Following India’s recent disappointing performances in Test matches against New Zealand and Australia, the upcoming group-stage fixtures promise to be star-studded events.
Rohit Sharma is among the players ready to take the field starting Wednesday, marking his first domestic appearance since the 2016 Duleep Trophy. The Indian captain has faced a challenging period, suffering losses in six of his last seven Tests while also managing just 31 runs at an average of 6.20 during the recent Australian tour.
Cricketing icons like Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar have encouraged Rohit and fellow star Virat Kohli to regain their form in domestic cricket before returning to Test matches. Kohli, whose vulnerability to off-stump deliveries was exploited by Australian bowlers during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, will also be looking to bounce back.
If Rohit avoids injury in the crucial Ranji match against Jammu and Kashmir at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy in Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex, he will become the first Indian Test captain since Anil Kumble to play in the Ranji Trophy. Kumble last featured in this prestigious tournament in November 2007, shortly after taking over the captaincy from Rahul Dravid.
Mumbai is gearing up for the significant match against J&K, which could determine which team progresses to the knockout stage from Group A. The presence of Rohit has prompted organizers to enhance arrangements for the fixture.
While the BKC venue has a modest capacity of 500, the Mumbai Cricket Association is ramping up security and seating to accommodate fans. “Additional security has been arranged, and we have increased the seating capacity for fans up to 500,” an MCA official confirmed.
As the final round of group fixtures kicks off on January 30, Kohli is set to make his first domestic appearance in 12 years, confirming his availability for Delhi’s match against Railways. Alongside Rohit and Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Ravindra Jadeja are also set to participate in the next two rounds of the Ranji Trophy, with Jaiswal joining Rohit in the Mumbai lineup.
