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After a tumultuous year in international cricket, India‘s Test and ODI regulars made their much-anticipated return to domestic cricket in the Round 6 of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season.
BCCI’s guidelines for Indian international cricketers
The move comes in the wake of heavy criticism following India’s shocking home Test series whitewash against New Zealand and their underwhelming performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 against Australia. The pressure was particularly intense on senior players like Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja, who were expected to make a strong statement with their performances.
Adding to the intrigue, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently mandated that all Indian internationals not engaged in national duties must participate in domestic cricket to regain form and confidence. However, despite the high expectations, the return of these stars turned out to be a disappointing affair, as they struggled to make an impact in their respective matches.
Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill and others’ outing in Ranji Trophy 2024-25
1. Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal Fall Cheaply for Mumbai
Rohit, returning to Ranji cricket after nearly a decade, faced immense scrutiny as he walked out to open the innings for Mumbai against Jammu and Kashmir at the Sharad Pawar Academy in Mumbai. However, the Indian skipper’s comeback proved to be a damp squib as he was dismissed for just 3 runs off 19 balls. Rohit, who scored only 31 runs in three Tests in Australia, was clearly out of touch, struggling with his shot selection before gifting a simple catch to the extra-cover fielder.
Jaiswal, who had impressed in the Australia series, also had a forgettable outing. The young left-hander was trapped leg-before-wicket by Auqib Nabi for just 4 runs in the third over of the match. Mumbai’s opening duo faltered within the first six overs, leaving the defending champions in a precarious position.
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2. Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant Disappoint
Gill, appointed vice-captain for the upcoming England ODI series and ICC Champions Trophy 2025, failed to live up to his billing. Representing Punjab against Karnataka at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Gill opened the innings alongside Prabhsimran Singh but managed only 4 runs off 8 deliveries before edging a delivery to the keeper off Abhilash Shetty.
In Rajkot, Pant’s domestic return was equally disappointing. Representing Delhi against Saurashtra, the explosive wicketkeeper-batter lasted just 10 deliveries before being caught by Prerak Mankad off Dharamendrasinh Jadeja for a solitary run. Pant, who has been under scrutiny for his inconsistent performances, failed to make the most of this opportunity to silence critics.
3. Ravindra Jadeja shows glimpses of brilliance
Jadeja, representing Saurashtra in their clash against Delhi at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot, had an eventful yet inconsistent return to first-class cricket. The all-rounder started on a shaky note, conceding nine runs in his opening over to Delhi’s Yash Dhull, who took an aggressive approach. However, Jadeja quickly recovered, showcasing his trademark control and accuracy with the ball.
He managed to pick up two crucial wickets, providing glimpses of his skill and experience. While his bowling performance helped Saurashtra maintain some control, Jadeja’s overall impact was limited, highlighting that he is still working his way back to peak form after his recent international assignments. His return adds depth to Saurashtra’s lineup, but the all-rounder will need more consistency to dominate in domestic cricket.
