17-Year-Old Ayush Mhatre Dropped for Rohit Sharma in Mumbai XI, Shares Heartfelt Note

Ayush Mhatre, the 17-year-old Mumbai batting prodigy, had a bittersweet moment recently. Despite scoring a century in his last Ranji Trophy match against Services, Mhatre was dropped from Mumbai’s XI to make way for Indian captain Rohit Sharma in their clash against Jammu and Kashmir.

Instead of feeling disheartened, Mhatre saw it as an opportunity to learn from his idol. He took to Instagram to share his emotions, writing, “Started playing cricket by watching him bat on television to sharing a dressing room with my idol was such an unreal moment. Lots of learning to take forward.”

https://www.instagram.com/ayush_m255/p/DFNYzLQsqse/ 

A Promising Start to Domestic Cricket

Mhatre has been one of the rising stars in Mumbai cricket. He has already scored 441 runs in six Ranji matches at an average of 40.09, showcasing consistency beyond his years. In List A cricket, he has been even more impressive, amassing 458 runs at an average of 65.42, including two centuries.

In the previous game against Services, Mhatre smashed a brilliant 116, playing a key role in Mumbai’s dominant win.

Rohit Sharma’s Struggles Continue

Rohit Sharma returned to domestic cricket after almost a decade, looking to regain his form. However, his comeback has been underwhelming so far. In the first innings against Jammu and Kashmir, Rohit was dismissed for just three runs off 19 balls.

He showed glimpses of his old self in the second innings. The Indian captain scored a fluent 28, including two sixes over the bowler’s head. Yet, his struggles in red-ball cricket remain a concern. Over the last year, Rohit has failed to cross fifty in Tests, with scores of 0, 8, 18, 11, and 3 among his recent outings.

A Learning Experience for Mhatre

Despite being left out of the playing XI, Mhatre remained positive, calling it a learning experience. Sharing a dressing room with one of India’s greatest cricketers was a dream come true for the teenager.

Mhatre’s maturity and talent have already made him one of the most talked-about youngsters in Indian cricket. With Mumbai’s next Ranji Trophy game against Meghalaya starting on January 30, it remains to be seen if Rohit will continue in the squad. For Mhatre, the focus will be on staying ready for his next opportunity.

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