Mumbai: The intention behind involving regular Indian players in the Ranji Trophy was to restore their confidence following numerous batting failures in Test cricket. However, the first day of play across the country proved to be disheartening. The performances of Rohit Sharma (3), Yashasvi Jaiswal (4), Shreyas Iyer (11), Shubman Gill (4), and Rishabh Pant (1) were far from impressive.

Whether in Mumbai, Bengaluru, or Rajkot, the majority of the damage occurred during the morning session. The Mumbai batsmen struggled against the pace attack from Jammu and Kashmir, and the situation was similarly bleak in other locations.

Rohit may have recalled his experiences in Melbourne, where he was dismissed by Pat Cummins. In a similar fashion to his first innings at the MCG Test, Rohit was caught out while attempting a half-pull, finding himself in an awkward position with his feet still airborne as the ball deflected off his top edge. This time, however, it was Jammu and Kashmir's right-arm fast bowler Umar Nazir who claimed his wicket; Rohit’s return to the Ranji Trophy after nearly a decade lasted less than thirty minutes and involved just 19 deliveries.

Given the excitement surrounding his comeback, Rohit’s performance in Mumbai was a significant letdown. A few hundred plastic chairs at the Sharad Pawar Academy ground were filled, despite offering a limited view from the square of the wicket. The common areas of nearby commercial offices in BKC, which house major financial institutions, had transformed into viewing spots. Following Rohit’s dismissal, the crowd quickly diminished.

Against Cummins, Rohit had struggled to execute a swivel pull, dragging the ball from outside off to mid-on. In this instance, he was caught off guard by the extra bounce, resulting in a simple catch to mid-off. This highlights a broader issue: one of the game’s most proficient pullers has repeatedly found himself indecisive while attempting one of his preferred shots.

In the period leading up to the dismissal, the Jammu and Kashmir pacers maintained a disciplined approach, targeting the off-stump line and capitalizing on the early morning conditions at the Sharad Pawar Academy. Umar remarked after the day's play, "My strategy was to bowl fuller than a good length, as the red-soil pitch provides bounce. In cricket, delivering a quality ball can lead to the dismissal of any batsman."

When asked if this was his most significant wicket to date, the seasoned pacer responded affirmatively, stating, "Obviously." Although Umar is a fan of Rohit, he refrained from celebrating the dismissal, which nonetheless held considerable significance for him.

Rohit continues to be held in high regard for his past achievements; however, his current form has been troubling. Following his withdrawal from the Sydney Test, where he accumulated only 31 runs across three Test matches in Australia, Rohit took the opportunity to clarify that he was not considering retirement. By participating in this first-class match, he aimed to convey a message. Nevertheless, there appears to be a disconnect between his aspirations and his performance at the crease.

Before Rohit's dismissal, Jaiswal (4) was caught by Auqib Nabi, the leading wicket-taker for J&K this season. Ajinkya Rahane (12) was bowled by Umar, who found a gap in his defence. Shreyas Iyer (11) attempted an ambitious shot and was caught at long-on. In a span of 33.2 overs, the illustrious Mumbai lineup was dismissed for 120 runs by the J&K fast bowlers. Shardul Thakur's aggressive fifty and some disciplined bowling in response kept the defending champions competitive, yet the visitors currently hold a 54-run lead with three first-inning wickets remaining.

In the southern region, Punjab experienced a particularly dramatic batting collapse against Karnataka, being dismissed for a mere 55 runs on a challenging pitch at Chinnaswamy Stadium. The inexperienced left-arm pacer Abhilash Shetty quickly sent Shubman Gill back to the pavilion after the batsman managed only four runs. In response, the home team swiftly reached 199 for 4.

At the C Ground in Rajkot, Rishabh Pant's return to the Ranji Trophy was brief, as he was caught for just 1 run at deep square-leg while attempting a sweep off left-arm spinner Dharmendrasinh Jadeja. The more renowned Jadeja, Ravindra, had a successful match, concluding with figures of 5 for 66. Following Delhi's dismissal for 188 runs, Ravindra contributed a quick 38 runs with the bat, while Cheteshwar Pujara was dismissed early for 6. Only Harvik Desai's impressive 93 runs allowed the home team to narrow the deficit, ending the day at 163 for 5.

On a day largely influenced by bowlers, the standout performance came from Gujarat's left-arm spinner Siddharth Desai, who recorded remarkable figures of 15 overs, 5 maidens, 36 runs, and 9 wickets against Uttarakhand in Ahmedabad. The 24-year-old orthodox spinner was on the verge of achieving a perfect ten, but the final wicket was claimed by his fellow spinner, Vishal Jayswal.

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