Ayush Mhatre, a 17-year-old batting sensation from Mumbai, had an exceptional start to his first-class career, scoring 441 runs in 6 matches at an impressive average of 40.09. Despite his strong performances, Mhatre was dropped from the Mumbai Ranji XI to accommodate Indian Test captain Rohit Sharma, who made his return to domestic cricket to regain form.
A Dream Come True: Sharing a Dressing Room with Rohit Sharma
Although disappointed to be dropped, Mhatre had the incredible opportunity to share the dressing room with his idol, Rohit Sharma. Mhatre took to Instagram to express his feelings, saying:
“Started playing cricket by watching him bat on television to sharing a dressing room with my idol was such an unreal moment. Lots of learning to take forward.”
For Mhatre, this was a dream come true as he had looked up to Rohit as a role model for years.
Impressive Domestic Debut for Ayush Mhatre
Mhatre’s rise in domestic cricket has been swift. He made a mark in the Ranji Trophy with a 116-run knock in Mumbai’s big win against Services. His impressive start continued in List A cricket, where he has scored 458 runs at a stunning average of 65.42, including two centuries and a fifty.
Rohit Sharma’s Return to Domestic Cricket
While Mhatre’s performances have been consistent, Rohit Sharma has faced a rough patch in his return to red-ball cricket. Playing his first Ranji match for Mumbai in nearly a decade, Rohit struggled in the opening hours, being dismissed for a 3 off 19 balls. However, he redeemed himself with a fluent 28, his best first-class score since a 52 in the Bengaluru Test against New Zealand last year.
Rohit’s innings displayed flashes of brilliance, including two sixes over the head of Jammu and Kashmir pacers, signaling that he might be on the verge of rediscovering his form.
Looking Ahead: Rohit’s Next Challenge
Rohit’s journey back to form will be closely watched, especially with Mumbai’s next Ranji match against Meghalaya starting on January 30. Whether he can return to his best form will be a major talking point as he aims to regain confidence ahead of important international duties.
