"Don't play for sake of it" - Mumbai selector slams Rohit Sharma & others for playing Ranji Trophy 2024-25

Mumbai chief selector Sanjay Patil has expressed his disappointment over international players playing the Ranji Trophy for just a few matches. He feels that big names playing for the 'sake of playing' was one of the reasons behind the side's inability to defend their title.

Mumbai, who won the Ranji Trophy last year, were eliminated from the tournament after they faced an 80-run defeat against Vidarbha in the semi-final of the tournament in Nagpur last week. The 42-time champions didn't have a great outing with bat and ball as their desire to win another title ended.

Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Shreyas Iyer, Shardul Thakur, Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal played for Mumbai in Ranji Trophy

The defending champions had an off-and-on season this year, and it's fair to say that they weren't a threatening force this time around like they were last season. This year, some of the international players also turned up for Mumbai but it wasn't a fruitful outing for them.

After BCCI made it mandatory for all international players to play in domestic cricket, players like Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Shreyas Iyer and Shardul Thakur turned up for the team. Also, Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal played one match. But apart from Thakur, no one stood up.

I have a request for the association to make sure the international stars are made aware of it - Mumbai chief selector Sanjay Patil

Reflecting on the team's poor campaign, selector Sanjay Patil requested BCCI to monitor the performances of international players in domestic cricket. He feels that players coming and playing directly becomes unfair to the team and the rising stars. Speaking to Sports Star, he said:

"I have a request for the association to make sure the international stars are made aware of it. Otherwise, it becomes unfair on the team and the rising stars. Our association has always stood by us but had no option due to the BCCI diktat."

They were asked to play and they did, mostly for the sake of it - Sanjay Patil one international player playing for Mumbai

Mumbai selector further mentioned that Ajit Agarkar and his selection committee should make sure when international players return to domestic cricket, they play with full commitment and not for the sake of it, as they didn't this time. While stressing on the same, he said:

"I have a request for Ajit, his committee and the BCCI that whenever you ask the international stars to turn up for their state teams, their performances should be closely monitored. They were asked to play and they did, mostly for the sake of it.

"All of them should have been monitored by the Indian national selection committee. If you see, all of them only participated and didn’t really perform. And it reflects in their team’s performance."

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