Can Rohit Sharma revive his relevance like Sourav Ganguly did 20 years ago? | Cricket News

Can India’s Test match batting problems get solved forcing international stars to play domestic red-ball games? Not if you have watched Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s two innings in his Ranji Trophy outing against J&K. Even the most indulgent eyes wouldn’t have seen in Rohit any signs of an out-of-form batsman trying desperately to use the Ranji ladder to climb out of the hole he found himself in.In his rare domestic appearance, Rohit, unlike players from the past, didn’t show the patience to find his feet or form. In both his innings – 3 off 19 balls, 28 off 35 balls – he looked rushed. Even against the modest J&K attack, he didn’t seem to have the confidence to trust his defence. Worse, there wasn’t even a concerted effort to do so. He tried to hit his way out of trouble but failed. Even when an edge would fly from his bat he continued to swing his bat. Till he was eventually out.
This was Rohit’s chance to at least resemble the Test batsman he once was, someone who had scored a memorable 256-ball 127 at an overcast Oval against an attack that had swing-king James Anderson on the 2021 tour. Back then he reached his half-century from 145 balls. He wasn’t someone who kept miming his hurried pull – like in the second innings against J&K and also during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Mumbai’s Rohit Sharma during the second day of Ranji Trophy cricket match against Jammu and Kashmir, in Mumbai. (PTI)
Rohit’s two knocks for Mumbai had the feel of a hit-and-giggle charity game. His stroke selection had a kind of flippancy that gave an impression that playing Ranji Trophy was a box that the seniors were made to tick the BCCI. Like many other India regulars playing this Ranji round, returning to domestic cricket looked like an imposition for performing poorly internationally.
In recent times, along with its under-valuation, there has been a foolish and tragic under-estimation of domestic cricket. The present Indian stars have forgotten their old friend of teenage years that taught them to fly. Also wiped from their memory are those days when youngsters would pinch themselves when sharing Ranji Trophy dressing rooms with the star they had always dreamed to meet.
Horically, domestic cricket hasn’t only been the platform where talented youngsters get spotted or inspired. It is also where the national team discards re-login to make comebacks or aging out-of-touch stars turn to extend their careers. It’s this last category that should interest the 37-year-old Indian captain.
Back in 2005-06, Indian cricket faced a turmoil that had far more intrigue than present times. Sourav Ganguly had fallen out with coach Greg Chappell and without the support of captain Rahul Dravid he was out of contention. From India’s very own Imran Khan, Ganguly was being treated as a have-been with no hope of returning to the team.
Former India captain and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly. (File)
Ganguly’s biography ‘A century is not enough’ talks about this bleakest period of his life that impacted his family. His wife would remain silent. Mother would consult astrologers, press him to wear a certain ring and taga (thread).
But it was his conversation with his Bapi, father, who rarely spoke cricket with him, that he recalls most vividly. “Maharaj, trust me, I don’t see any window for you. Sadly, there is no hope,” Ganguly Sr said. The stubborn Maharaj had a counter argument. “I do not want to live with the thought that I didn’t try hard enough”. The father nodded, the son walked to his room.
That night Ganguly made three decisions – train hardest, play all Ranji games and never give up. Trainer Chinmoy Roy was privy to the regime of the player, who like Rohit was never the fittest in the team. Shamed, rejected and forgotten, Ganguly at 33 wanted to build the muscle and mettle to turn back the clock.
“Half-an-hour of running around the field, ten sprints of 100 m, running through the ladder and several other drills on field were part of his daily routine. This was followed gym work, where the focus was on the abdomen and back” – Roy had once told The Indian Express.
Playing Ranji was harder for the Prince, who according to legend had once while playing for India, refused to carry drinks. “It was not easy playing in front of half-empty galleries, staying in hotels which offered little comfort, playing against opposition teams which were light years away from the international standard,” Ganguly writes.
After taking the tough country road, swallowing his ego, a new Ganguly would emerge. Quality of attack notwithstanding, Dada had learnt to deal with the short-ball too. Opinion would change and Ganguly would be recalled. It would be for a tour that not many batsmen look forward to – South Africa.
Ganguly’s trusted sharp-shooter from his playing days Virender Sehwag had once painted the picture of Dada’s return to Team India. He would start the tour with an unbeaten 51 but Sehwag talks about his 46 at Cape Town in the final Test.
It was “hadbad, gadbad” first morning with the score 6/2. Sachin Tendulkar, the No.4, couldn’t go next as he hadn’t fielded enough. Chappell would ask Ganguly to quickly pad up. Dale Steyn, Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini waited for him on the greenish pitch. Ganguly didn’t score a hundred, or even a fifty. But he showed pluck. Everyone, even his father, thought that it was over, but the grind of unglamorous domestic cricket had revived a dead career.
If Rohit’s longing to play for India is alive, he needs to go through the same grind. If not, he shouldn’t block the way for 17-year-old Mumbai opener Ayush Mhatre, or 24-year-old India T20 batter Abhishek Sharma. That’s the call he needs to take. Those with mic, laptop, or pen will continue to do their job.
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