Rohit Sharma fell for a golden duck in his second Vijay Hazare Trophy match for Mumbai this season, at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Playing against Uttarakhand, Rohit was dismissed off the very first delivery he faced by 25-year-old fast bowler Devendra Singh Bora, as he attempted his trademark pull shot to a short ball.
Hundreds of fans had turned up to watch Rohit feature in the domestic fixture on Friday, December 26. Some of them were even seen making their way to the Sawai Mansingh Stadium as early as 6 am local time, braving the winter chill just to catch a glimpse of their favourite star.
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However, their excitement was short-lived, as Rohit was dismissed in the opening over of the match after Uttarakhand won the toss and opted to field.
According to reports, a large section of fans began leaving the stadium immediately after Rohit’s dismissal. The atmosphere at the venue fell silent once the catch at deep square leg was taken.
A few supporters were also seen calling for a no-ball, urging the umpires to offer Rohit a reprieve so they could continue watching the master batsman perform in their hometown.
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Fans had started trickling into the stands after news broke that Mumbai would bat first, but they were instead left nursing a massive heartbreak.
The match marked only Rohit’s second Vijay Hazare Trophy appearance in eight years. Earlier in the week, on Wednesday, he had lit up the Jaipur crowd with a sensational match-winning 155 off just 94 balls against Sikkim. Fans packed the stadium to witness the electrifying innings, which included 18 fours and nine sixes.
Rohit tore into the Sikkim bowling attack, ensuring that those who stayed back to watch Mumbai’s afternoon chase got full value for their money. More than 15,000 fans were in attendance after the organisers announced free entry for the Vijay Hazare Trophy fixture.
Meanwhile, on Friday, Virat Kohli, who was also playing his second Vijay Hazare Trophy match of the season, struck a fluent fifty off just 29 balls against Gujarat in Bengaluru. Unlike Jaipur, the match at the BCCI Centre of Excellence was played behind closed doors, with no public entry.
Kohli had also impressed on his return to domestic cricket earlier, scoring a match-winning 131 off 101 balls against Andhra in Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy opener. Despite the absence of spectators, several Kohli fans climbed nearby trees and containers to catch a glimpse of their batting icon.
The BCCI has faced criticism for not broadcasting matches featuring Rohit and Kohli, with many pointing out that the board missed a golden opportunity to further popularise the tournament. Nevertheless, the return of India’s ODI stalwarts has thrust the domestic 50-over competition back into the spotlight.
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