Jaipur – Rohit Sharma practiced for about an hour in the nets ahead of Mumbai’s Vijay Hazare Trophy opener against Sikkim at Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Wednesday, turning a routine domestic match into a high-profile event with expectations of 3,000 spectators and enhanced security arrangements. Sikkim captain Lee Yong Lepcha, a 34-year-old off-spinner from Gangtok, called it the biggest match of his captaincy career, emphasizing the rare chance to face a player of Sharma’s stature.
Lepcha told reporters that competing against Rohit, even standing in his shadow, offers invaluable learning for his team, hoping to inspire young players back home by sharing the experience. The 38-year-old opener, now focusing solely on ODIs ahead of the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, has silenced form doubts with three fifties in four recent innings, including an unbeaten 121 in Sydney and two half-centuries against South Africa.
His commitment shines through playing these non-televised league games, including the next against Uttarakhand on Friday, possibly driven by BCCI mandates for stars like him and Virat Kohli to sharpen domestic skills during gaps in international schedules. Despite recent scrutiny after a gritty 73 in Adelaide, Sharma’s grounded net session alongside other players on the eve of the tournament opener dispelled career speculation.
