‘Aapko Bhi Pata Hai Rohit Sharma Ka Character’: Ajinkya Rahane On Indian Captain’s Ranji Trophy Return

Last Updated:January 22, 2025, 15:15 IST

Ajinkya Rahane is thrilled to have Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal back in the Mumbai team for the Ranji Trophy match against Jammu and Kashmir.

India captain Rohit Sharma [AP Photo]

Mumbai skipper Ajinkya Rahane is happy to have ‘hungry’ Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal back in the state team for the upcoming match against Jammu and Kashmir in the 2025 Ranji Trophy. He said the Indian skipper is ‘pretty relaxed’ about his return to domestic cricket and looks set for a big knock.

Rohit last played in the Ranji Trophy in November 2015. He has returned to the competition amid a slump in form in Test cricket, along with Jaiswal and a few other international players after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) directed them to be available for their state as much as possible.

“See, Rohit is Rohit. We all know that. Aapko bhi pata hai Rohit ka character (You also know Rohit’s character). I am really happy to have both of them back in the Mumbai dressing room,” Rahane told media during Mumbai’s training session on the eve of the match on Wednesday, as quoted by PTI.

“Rohit has always been relaxed. Even playing at the international level, his character is similar. His attitude is pretty much relaxed. He knows his game really well so, no one has to tell him what he needs to do. Once he gets in, I’m sure he will do well. He has never changed, which is a very good thing,” Rahane added.

“What is important is (that) he is hungry, he is determined to do well. I am sure once he gets in, he will get a big one. He batted really well yesterday (in) a couple of sessions so it’s part and parcel of a player’s career. I am really confident about Rohit.”

Rohit and Jaiswal will almost certainly open the innings for the team, as they do for India.

Jaiswal’s determination will impact youngsters in the dressing room: Rahane

There’s no better ideal for Mumbai’s youngsters than Jaiswal, who reached and cemented his place in India’s Test side on nothing but performance.

“…(In the) last couple of years, he’s been performing well for the Indian team (and) before that, going into the Indian team, he did well for Mumbai as well,” Rahane said. “It’s good to have a guy like Yashasvi in the team who is really hungry and determined to score runs. These things will really impact all the youngsters in the dressing room.”

“As a team, (and) individually, players are going up to them (and) asking questions, learning from them. Once they are on the field, I am sure the players will watch them and they’ll learn a lot of things from them,” he added.

Mumbai have won three of their five matches so far and stand third on the Elite Group A table. Their opponents are second with one additional point.