Cricket fans at the Bandra-Kurla Complex were in for a treat as former India captain Rohit Sharma made a special appearance during the Mumbai vs Himachal Pradesh Ranji Trophy clash. The 38-year-old arrived at the ground during the lunch break, dressed casually in a blue shirt, shorts, and a black cap.
Rohit was seen chatting with a few of his former Mumbai teammates and doing light sprints near the nets under the afternoon sun — a rare public glimpse of the veteran since stepping back from red-ball cricket.
Leaner and Fitter Than Ever
Observers noted that Rohit looked significantly leaner, thanks to his recent months-long high-intensity training program under Abhishek Nayar, former India assistant coach. The transformation is part of Rohit’s renewed focus on fitness as he eyes another World Cup run.
Domestic Cricket Roots
Rohit last represented Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy 2024 season, where he played against Jammu and Kashmir, scoring 3 and 28 in the two innings. Despite BCCI’s directive for senior players to feature in domestic games when available, the veteran is unlikely to play red-ball matches again after his Test retirement.
Eyes on the 2027 ODI World Cup
Rohit’s focus is now firmly on limited-overs cricket — particularly the 2027 ODI World Cup. He recently starred in the three-match ODI series in Australia, where he earned the Player of the Series award after scoring a match-winning century in the final game. His next assignment will be India’s home ODI series against South Africa, starting November 30.
ODI Captaincy Shift and Selection Pressure
With chief selector Ajit Agarkar handing over the ODI captaincy, Rohit will need to prove his place purely on performance. He’ll be 40 by the time the 2027 World Cup begins in South Africa, meaning every run will matter — though his legacy as one of India’s finest 50-over players still carries weight.
Kohli and Rohit Missing from India A Squad
Interestingly, neither Rohit Sharma nor Virat Kohli was included in the India A squad for the upcoming three-match List-A series against South Africa A. The absence of both veterans — who aren’t currently playing in any other format — raised eyebrows, as the series could have offered much-needed match practice before the ODI season.
India A Squad for South Africa Series
Tilak Varma (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, Ishan Kishan (WK), Ayush Badoni, Nishant Sindhu, Vipraj Nigam, Manav Suthar, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Khaleel Ahmed, Prabhsimran Singh (WK).
Catch every update on Cricket News, Match Predictions, Fantasy Tips, and Live Cricket Action—only on The Cricket Scores!
