Rohit Sharma Returns, Rishabh Pant vs Ravindra Jadeja: Things To Watch Out As India Stars Play Ranji Trophy

A rare congregation of stars will be on display when the Ranji Trophy resumes on Thursday with big names such as Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant agreeing to show up for their respective sides, nudged primarily by the BCCI's stern diktat on respect for domestic cricket. Rohit will be turning up for defending champions Mumbai after nearly a decade when action resumes in the second half of the country's premier red-ball competition across different venues.

For the first time this season, the two biggest white-ball competitions -- Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy -- split the Ranji Trophy into two halves with each state side playing five matches apiece in the first leg.

With every team to play two more matches in the second round, a lot will be at stake not only for the sides involved but also for various national players, who have been clearly told that they cannot ignore domestic cricket anymore following crushing defeats to New Zealand at home and Australia in an away series.

Even though batting superstar Virat Kohli will take a few more days to recover from a neck strain before joining his Delhi teammates for the final round of group stage matches from January 30, Rohit is set to play for Mumbai under the leadership of Ajinkya Rahane.

In all likelihood, Mumbai will pair him with Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top, replicating the India combination, when they will face a formidable Jammu and Kashmir, currently placed second in Elite Group A.

At the top is Baroda, who beat Mumbai in the season-opener, but the Rahane-led side can be backed to find their mojo and get back in the saddle to aim for a record-extending 43rd title.

The outing with Mumbai is expected to benefit India's out-of-sorts Test and ODI