In a significant achievement for Indian domestic cricket, the iconic Rohit Sharma has triumphantly answered the call of his long-lost friend – Vijay Hazare Trophy! There was an air of excitement at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur this morning when Mumbai took on Sikkim in their Elite Group C opener.
He recently became centrally contracted again after missing out on a lucrative deal the last time, so when BCCI ordered it’s centrally contracted players to play and be available for domestic cricket, all attention was at the ‘Hitman’, ready to make that shift from international cricket back to domestic circuit in India.
Sikkim Won the Toss: Daring Act
In a typical ‘David versus Goliath’ scenario, Sikkim captain Lee Yong Lepcha won the toss and remarkably chose – against all logic – to bat first. Although many thought the underdogs would ask Mumbai to bat and then tests their nerves, Sikkim have put them in to set a target on what looks like an average Jaipur surface – good for batting with a little early-morning help for quicks.
Under the leadership of Shardul Thakur, Mumbai began their matches on a high. Mumbai paceman Tushar Deshpande provided an early breakthrough, removing Sikkim opener Amit Rajera for a duck in the first over to put immediate pressure on the Himalayan outfit.
The Hitman Returns: Rohit Sharma to Open, Says Virat Kohli
The headline the world click-tocks for is a Mumbai batting order. Rohit Sharma is in fact down to open batting with the promising Angkrish Raghuvanshi.
The development bears significance as Rohit gears up to lead India in the ODI series versus New Zealand from January 2026. For Mumbai, possessing a player of that skill at the top offers is a psychological advantage that is almost impossible to gauge. He had even caught the morning’s warm-up session dishing out a tender moment with youngster Musheer Khan, handing him his debut cap -a moment very few of Mumbai will forget.
Mumbai’s Star-Studded Playing XI
Mumbai have not gone big for this opener, fielding a line-up that could just as easily be an IPL powerhungry mega-franchise as from your average state side:
- Openers: Rohit Sharma, Angkrish Raghuvanshi
- Middle Order: Sarfaraz Khan, Siddhesh Lad, Musheer Khan (Debut), Hardik Tamore (WK)
- All-Rounders/Bowlers: Shardul Thakur (C), Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande, Sylvester DSouza
Where is the Live Stream?
And while there are global icons Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli (who is playing for Delhi today), there is a big catch to the fans. Also Read | India vs Australia 4th Test Live Streaming: When And Where to Watch Brisbane Test Online, TV Coverage Details However, the Mumbai vs. Sikkim match is not being live streamed or telecast due to logistical constraints of having enough resources in place for all the 38 teams playing across the country at a given time.
Media attention for the opening round has centered on the Narendra Modi Stadium and the Niranjan Shah Stadium. Only live scoreboards and updates on social media are enabling the fans to even get a peek of the action in Jaipur.
Conclusion & Suggestion
We can’t see the “Hitman” live on screen today, but his return to domestic circuit is anything but a good news for the prestige of Vijay Hazare Trophy. Considering Deshpande already picks up a wicket in first over, it looks like Sikkim is going to have a hard time posting an imposing total and enter their overs with bales flying around – this would perhaps lead to shorter (albeit explosive) innings from Rohit Sharma in the chase.
Match Tip: Musheer Khan should be watched out for. It is literally a dream debut for any young cricketer to have his brother Sarfaraz by his side and Rohit Sharma at the other end. He is likely to play a substantial role in Mumbai’s middle order today.
