Rohit Sharma Returns to Domestic Cricket, Included in Mumbai Squad for Opening Two Vijay Hazare Trophy Games
Rohit Sharma will play Mumbai’s first two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches before joining India’s ODI squad for the New Zealand series.
Rohit Sharma will be available for Mumbai’s first two matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, giving the domestic side a big boost at the top of the order.
The senior batter has been named in Mumbai’s squad for the opening games, as the team begins its 50-over campaign later this month. Mumbai will be led by all-rounder Shardul Thakur for the tournament.
Rohit’s return to domestic cricket follows a clear directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, which has asked centrally contracted players to feature in at least two rounds of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
The move is aimed at giving senior players proper 50-over game time before international duties resume. For Rohit, these matches will help him stay in rhythm ahead of India’s upcoming ODI commitments.
Mumbai are placed in Group C and will open their campaign against Sikkim on December 24, followed by a clash with Uttarakhand in their second game.
Apart from Rohit, Mumbai’s squad includes key names like Sarfaraz Khan, Musheer Khan, and young batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi. The selectors have also backed several emerging players to gain exposure at this level.
However, some regular faces will be missing for at least the first two matches. Ajinkya Rahane, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Ayush Mhatre have not been included in the early part of the squad as Mumbai looks to test a younger group.
The squad also features youngsters Chinmay Sutar and Ishan Mulchandani, along with pacer Onkar Tarmale, who was picked by Sunrisers Hyderabad at the IPL 2026 mini-auction.
In the spin department, Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian provide all-round options, while Siddhesh Lad and Hardik Tamore are the wicketkeeping choices.
An MCA source confirmed the plan, saying, “Rohit will be available for the first two games. Jaiswal, Dube and even Rahane will not be a part of the Mumbai squad for at least first two matches as the selection panel is going ahead with a young squad.”
After completing his Vijay Hazare Trophy duties, Rohit is expected to link up with India’s ODI squad for the India vs New Zealand ODI series, which begins on January 11.
