Rohit hits the nets ahead of Mumbai's Ranji match

India's batters, especially skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, are under the scanner for repeated failures following the Test series loss in Australia.

- Rasesh Mandani

MUMBAI: Although the next assignment is white-ball cricket - Champions Trophy - the selectors and the cricket board have directed the batters to grind it out in Ranji Trophy, which many India stars have not played for years.

Rohit was the first to respond to that summons. He began Tuesday morning padded up and in whites with the Mumbai Ranji team at the Wankhede Stadium. It was hours of toil in the maidans that had helped Rohit polish his talent and rise to prominence.

He once longed to earn the Test cap, which he didn't till he was into his sixth year as an India player. He has now played 67 Tests, but it remains to be seen if he can add to that tally when India tour England in the summer. Rohit, 37, has scored only 68 runs in his last five Tests. So out of rhythm in Australia, he sat out the final Test in Sydney.