Auqib Nabi had an off day, but Jammu and Kashmir found its heroes in Rohit Sharma and Sunil Kumar. Rohit claimed the second five-wicket haul of his First-Class career, while Sunil picked up four wickets to bowl Madhya Pradesh out for 196 on the opening day of its Ranji Trophy Group A fixture on Sunday.

In reply, J&K ended the day at three for one, with Avesh Khan trapping Shubham Khajuria leg before wicket off the penultimate ball of the day.

For Rohit (five for 36) it was a satisfying return to First-Class cricket after two years. Sharing his name with India’s erstwhile captain, the tall pacer showed little sign of rust, keeping an inexperienced MP batting line-up on its toes at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium.

J&K’s Sunil Kumar bowls on the first day of the Ranji Trophy fixture against Madhya Pradesh at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar on Sunday., October 11, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
IMRAN NISSAR

J&K’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss paid off early as Sunil (four for 69) troubled the openers before dismissing Yash Dubey. Rohit then joined the act, hitting the right areas and ensuring MP could not settle into a rhythm.

With three debutants in its ranks, MP needed its senior batters to step up. Captain Shubham Sharma (79, 174b, 8×4) took responsibility, adding 65 runs for the fourth wicket with debutant Chanchal Rathore before stitching together a 51-run stand for the seventh wicket with Aryan Pandey.

Shubham brought up a gritty half-century, showing patience as he tried to steady the innings. Sunil had a chance to claim a five-wicket haul of his own but put down a sharp return catch offered by the MP captain. He made amends by dismissing Pandey in the final session and removing Avesh Khan off the next delivery.

Madhya Pradesh fast bowler Avesh Khan celebrates the dismissal of J&K’s Shubham Khajuria during their Ranji Trophy match at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
IMRAN NISSAR

Nabi, who struggled to find his rhythm for much of the day, eventually picked up a wicket as MP’s lower order folded, losing its last four wickets for just 34 runs.

The scores: Madhya Pradesh — 1st innings: Harsh Gawli c Samad b Rohit 12, Yash Dubey lbw b Sunil 4, Himanshu Mantri c Samad b Rohit 17, Shubham Sharma c Dogra b Rohit 79, Chanchal Rathore c Wadhawan b Rohit 33, Atharva Mahajan b Rohit 0, Saransh Jain lbw b Sunil 0, Aryan Pandey c Wadhawan b Sunil 35, Avesh Khan c Wadhawan b Sunil 0, Ravi Kiran lbw b Nabi 1, Akshay Sharma (not out) 0; Extras (b-4, lb-6, nb-5): 15; Total (in 74.2 overs): 196.

Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-33, 3-41, 4-106, 5-108, 6-111, 7-162, 8-162, 9-179.

J&K bowling: Nabi 20-3-42-1, Sunil 23-3-69-4, Rohit 21.2-8-36-5, Lone 6-0-33-0, Vanshaj 4-0-6-0.

J&K — 1st innings: Qamran Iqbal (batting) 3, Shubham Khajuria lbw b Avesh Khan 0, Vanshaj Sharma (batting) 0; Total (for one wkt. in three overs): 3.

Fall of wicket: 1-3.

MP bowling: Ravi Kiran 1-0-1-0, Aryan 1-0-1-0, Avesh 1-0-1-1.

Toss: J&K.

Things might have become somewhat easier for the new chairman of India’s selection committee. He is yet to be appointed, but initially he is unlikely to face the challenges that Ajit Agarkar had to, challenges which caused him to decide against an extension knowing the cricket board was unlikely to give it to him.

In theory, the selection committee is an independent body, keeping in step only with its own plans and theories while taking on board suggestions from the coach, captain, senior players and the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

The chances of upsetting one of these groups or all are high. You pick a player and he performs poorly while another, ignored, stacks up runs or wickets. Or you ignore a player much recommended by his performances, and have the weight of displeasure landing on your shoulders from all of the above as well as fans and media, people who have all the answers all the time. Although no one will admit this, sponsors often have a role to play too. All these elements make it a heady mix for the selection committee.

The greater the investment in a player, the greater is the temptation to give him another chance to come good and make up for failures. It is both a practical response and an ego-salving one for the selectors who may be loath to admit they were mistaken in the first place. If a selection is honest, made on cricketing grounds and not influenced by the usual temptations, then selectors must be allowed to go with their instincts.

India’s two greatest bowlers, Anil Kumble and Jasprit Bumrah, were picked on instinct while another great, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar went from making his debut in club cricket to international cricket in six months. The figures to back up their talent came later. Sometimes things go wrong, as with Prithvi Shaw or Pravin Amre, both of whom began with a century and then faded out.

Agarkar made it clear that you do not simply pick the 15 best players. You pick a team — which means the focus is on balance and combinations. “You are well aware of which players you want to give a longer rope to, while some other guys may not get such a long rope. That is a judgment call,” he has said.

Selectors, like coaches, umpires, and wicketkeepers are noticed only when things go wrong, when a team loses a series or when a public favourite — Shreyas Iyer, Mohammed Shami or Suryakumar Yadav, for instance — finds himself out of the team. The popularity of the game in India means that favourites will be left out at every selection; social media ensures we know exactly who these players are.

Agarkar was a man with a plan for an Indian team in transition. Whether he was carrying the can for decisions made by coach Gautam Gambhir or some of his selections didn’t deliver, or the BCCI decided to flex its muscle over his handling of Rohit Sharma (who was told in England he was playing his last ODI), things had soured and the Agarkar plan became irrelevant. Continuity, by which he laid store, would be interrupted ahead of next year’s World Cup.

His successor, however, will not have to deal with one recurring issue at least. The immediate future of the two superstars, Virat Kohli, 37, and Rohit Sharma, 39, (both of whom play only ODI) is secure. They are both in fine form, and seem to combine in their batting the fearlessness of youth with the restraint of maturity. The chief selector need have no embarrassing conversations with them ahead of the World Cup.

India’s bench strength is remarkable. Four national teams are in action simultaneously — from Under-19 and ‘A’ team to the T20 at the Asian Games besides the ODI series against the West Indies. While there is abundance (batting) on the one hand, there is relative insufficiency (fast bowling) on the other.

India’s problem is not in white ball cricket where they are No. 1 in both formats. But they are in danger of missing out in the World Test Championship where they are currently fifth. And that will be the new chief selector’s real challenge.

Acutely aware but dismissive of the “noise” around his future in international cricket, veteran Indian batting star Rohit Sharma says he knows that speculation won’t stop till he is playing but he would rather focus on scoring runs instead of fighting it.

With a facile 138 at the Lord’s on Sunday (July 19, 2026), Rohit could not prevent India’s 27-run loss didn’t look his usual, possibly trying to mask the insult and hurt he must have felt.

“The noise, since I made my debut was there. Till I am going to stay here, it is always going to be there, so it doesn’t really matter too much,” the 39-year-old, who became the oldest Indian centurion and first from the country to score a ton in 50-over cricket, told BCCI.TV.

“What really matters is what I do on the field, try and contribute to the success of the team. That’s where all my focus is. Let the noise be there, if there is no noise there is no fun. My job is inside, their job is outside, that’s how I look at it.”

“My job is with bat, come and play, represent my country, that’s what I have been told to do since I made my debut, so that’s what I am going to do,” added the man, who is within touching distance of 12,000 ODI runs.

Under pressure, his 34th ODI ton was one of his best knocks in recent times. Rohit said he has always enjoyed playing in England.

“I love playing in England. The atmosphere, the grounds, the pitches, when you turn up to play any format over here, it challenges you in different ways. And that’s what you want as a cricketer. To be challenged in every way possible. I enjoyed out there in the middle,” he said.

The century stand with Virat Kohli, who smashed 74, raised visions of an improbable win despite the steep chase of 388. It didn’t happen but their on-pitch understanding was still as smooth as it was a decade and half ago.

“We [him and Kohli] played our entire career together, so it was nice to have him in the middle, we have had so many partnerships. It’s fun batting together as we understand each other so much, bouncing off ideas,” Rohit said.

Rohit did admit that it was disappointing to lose the series after starting off with a win in Birmingham.

“Little disappointed with the result as I thought we were playing good cricket. How we started off in Birmingham, we played good cricket. We fell a bit short in Cardiff with the bat not scoring enough runs.”

“Here it was a massive total to chase and we tried whatever we could but we fell 20-25 runs short,” Rohit said.

The Indian pace attack had a cumulative experience of 51 ODIs among four bowlers and Rohit predictably defended them.

“Again with bowling, you got to understand that these guys haven’t played a lot of ODIs and you got give them time. We can learn from this game, take things in our stride and when we again come across situation like this, we try and better ourselves,” he said.

“Disappointed with the result, we couldn’t finish off the game, we have to move on,” he signed off.

The hardest thing to do in modern-day cricket is to shift gears when you are already cruising. Fresh off a 4-0 dismantling of reigning World T20 champion India in the shortest format, England will face a different kind of test from Tuesday.

Awaiting the host in the ODI series is a significantly stronger Indian side, bolstered by the return of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah. For England, the presence of India’s talismanic trio demands a change in the gameplan.

In a virtual interaction on Monday, opener Ben Duckett acknowledged the scale of the “challenge” but insisted that England was confident of carrying its momentum into the 50-over assignment. “Obviously, it’s a different format, so there will be slight changes. Rohit, Virat and Jasprit are three of the greatest players to play this format. Any side with them is always extremely tough to beat,” said Duckett.

“Shubman Gill is back as well, so there’s a lot of class in that side. They’re (Rohit, Kohli and Gill) players we’ve faced before, and I’m sure our bowlers will have plans for them. Jasprit is probably the best all-format bowler in the world, so any Indian side with him is always a huge challenge,” added the 31-year-old.

The left-hander, however, remained optimistic about the home side clinching the series. “We’re confident coming into this week. We’ve got a lot of guys playing well, too, so it should be a good series. We certainly fancy our chances,” he said.

Duckett reserved special praise for England’s white-ball captain Harry Brook, crediting him for fostering an “aggressive and fearless” approach within the group.

“Brookie leads by example. He wants us to play attacking cricket, and that’s exactly how he plays. He’s always looking to take wickets with attacking fields. As a batter, there aren’t many better all-format players than him in the world right now. We’re very fortunate to have him leading us.”

(Watch the three-match ODI series between England and India Live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD & Sony Sports Ten 5 SD & HD from July 14).

Former England off-spinner Graeme Swann was suffering from the aftereffects of staying up all night for the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal matches.

Scheduled to address the media virtually on Sunday evening, Swann — currently on broadcast duty in India for the Men in Blue’s tour of England — would not have minded more rest before facing the scribes. But when he was put on the spot, firstly with the most obvious question on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s presence in the ODI series, he responded with clarity.

Swann opined that the 39-year-old Rohit and Kohli, 37, possess the tools to succeed despite not having age on their side. “When Rohit and Virat play together, they pose a double headache for the fielding team. When India bats first, Rohit is the best I have seen… batting on a fresh pitch, taking the game away from the opposition and posting a big total,” said the 47-year-old.

“I believe that Virat is the greatest chaser we have ever witnessed; some of his knocks are stupendous. Having both is a massive bonus for India.”

He remarked that the veterans, who are one-format players nowadays, should be allowed to bow out of international cricket on their own terms. “Because of the standards Rohit and Virat have set and careers they have had, it is up to them when they want to finish. I do not think that they have much to worry about because they are still brilliant players,” Swann added.

Fresh impetus

Swann felt that the batting might of ODI skipper Shubman Gill and return of ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah, besides the quality of Rohit and Kohli, should provide India hope. “It is amazing to have players of that stature come straight back into the team. After the T20I series (where India was thrashed 0-4), you need fresh impetus.”

(Watch the three-match ODI series between England and India live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD & Sony Sports Ten 5 SD & HD from July 14).

Pretty soon, the Indian selectors will have to take a call on the future of two of the greatest players to have put bat to white ball. Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma appear keen to play in the World Cup in October-November next year. India play at least 18 One-Day Internationals before that, possibly more.

On paper, the selectors’ task is straightforward: keep tabs on form and fitness, the only two metrics that matter, although Kohli turns 39 during the World Cup and Rohit will be 40 earlier.

But its seldom so simple in India. For one, should the two greats be hyphenated? Is it a Kohli-Rohit issue, or will dropping one make it easier to justify the other’s selection? Is this cricket’s version of the Prisoner’s Dilemma, where if one person withdraws, the other goes through?

Have the players been told in advance what the selectorial thinking is so they know what to expect and there will be no embarrassment? Can a ‘cricketing’ decision, which is what it will be touted as either way, be independent of the sentiment and romance attached to it?

Chairman Ajit Agarkar and his team have shown a streak of ruthlessness Indian cricket is unfamiliar with, ditching the captain who won the T20 World Cup. Suryakumar Yadav was desperately short of runs, and India’s pool in T20 cricket is so vast and so deep that it was a justified call. Fan response was muted, although that will not be the case with Kohli and Rohit. The selectors’ message, though, is simple: runs matter.

Crucial series

The three-match ODI series in England next month will be crucial. Both as an opportunity for self-assessment for the two veterans and to give the selectors some clues. Kohli, who missed the Afghanistan series with a hamstring injury, was replaced by Yashasvi Jaiswal who made a century in the last match. But Jaiswal is not in the team for England (unless Kohli misses out again and he takes the older man’s place). Younger players in form shouldn’t be kept waiting for too long; it’s easy to sympathise with Jaiswal. But such are India’s riches.

Selectors have the job of balancing the past with the future while focusing on the present. Youngsters have to be given a chance to succeed, while veterans need the chance to fail, as this column has often argued. In other words, youngsters require the freedom and backing to build confidence without fear of being dropped immediately. Veterans possess an equity that entitles them to a bad run without being instantly discarded.

Skipper Shubman Gill has not looked uncomfortable with former captains playing under him. This was not always the case with India where former captains often acted like they had power but no responsibility. Gill’s inputs will be important too as he settles in for a long career as batter and captain, possibly in all three formats.

Rohit Sharma missed the 2011 World Cup which India won. The chairman of selectors then, Krishnamachari Srikkanth apologised for this a decade later. He said in a podcast, “I still feel bad for him. We just wanted more all-round options.” Rohit has come through a lot since then, including, as captain, the agony of losing the last final at home to Australia.

Kohli was a key member of that 2011 squad, starting with a century and finishing with an important partnership in the final with Gautam Gambhir.

Present matters

Not that any of that should matter to the selectors. It wouldn’t do to choose players based purely on past record or to compensate for past wrongs. The present should be all that matters here. Playing in South Africa (and Zimbabwe) means the experience of the stalwarts is important.

As things stand, Kohli probably has the better chance of making the team a year from now. His fitness has been an example to colleagues, and so too his motivation and fierce competitive spirit. Rohit might appear more laid-back but he is equally motivated and competitive. In the end, it will have to be form and fitness alone that matter.

Between now and the final selection, Kohli and Rohit will figure prominently in all discussions, an important adjunct to the main story of India’s preparation.

Shreyas Iyer is set to return to India’s T20I set-up and is also likely to be handed the captaincy in the shortest format when the senior national selection committee meets here on Saturday to pick the squads for three crucial assignments in the coming months.

The senior selection panel, chaired by Ajit Agarkar, is scheduled to finalise the contingents for the T20I series in Ireland, subsequent limited-overs tour of England and the Asian Games. Shreyas, who last played a T20I in December 2023, is expected to replace Suryakumar Yadav both in the squad and as captain. After enduring a prolonged lean patch with the bat, Suryakumar is set to lose his place despite having led India during its successful T20 World Cup title defence earlier this year.

The Hindu understands that both the selectors and team management have increasingly gravitated towards Shreyas as the leadership choice after multiple rounds of discussions.

Having captained Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title in 2024 before guiding Punjab Kings to the final in 2025, the 31-year-old’s leadership credentials have significantly strengthened his case. Other names discussed for the role included Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma.

Interestingly, Hardik Pandya — who had been replaced by Suryakumar as captain at the beginning of the previous T20 World Cup cycle — and vice-captain of the recent World Cup campaign, Axar Patel, have not featured prominently in discussions so far.

Beyond the captaincy debate, teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the major talking point. The key question is whether the selectors accelerate the 15-year-old’s entry into the T20I squad or introduce him gradually through a relatively easier assignment in Zimbabwe in July.

Sooryavanshi already features among the 30 probables for the Asian Games. India will play two T20Is in Ireland on June 26 and 28 before travelling to England for five T20Is and three ODIs between July 1 and 19. The Asian Games cricket competition, scheduled from September 17 to October 3, overlaps with India’s home ODI series against the West Indies.

The selectors are also expected to name a replacement for Virat Kohli, whose hamstring injury has ruled him out of the ODI series against Afghanistan. Fitness reports concerning Rohit Sharma and Hardik — both selected earlier subject to clearance — will also come up for discussion during Saturday’s meeting.

The return of Rohit Sharma proved decisive as Mumbai Indians bounced back in IPL 2026 after a string of defeats to keep its playoff hopes alive.

Rohit, returning after three weeks out due to a hamstring injury, struck form immediately. He built a 143-run opening partnership with Ryan Rickelton to set the tone for Mumbai Indians’ run chase against Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday.

After three weeks on the sidelines nursing a hamstring injury, Rohit Sharma made a grand return to IPL 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday.

Rohit wasted little time reminding everyone of his class, producing 84 off 44 balls (6×4, 7×6) to breathe life back into Mumbai Indians’ flickering playoff hopes and script a commanding six-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants.