Thursday’s Ranji Trophy showdown here wasn’t just another humdrum domestic fixture. It was the stage for the much-hyped return of India’s ODI and Test captain, Rohit Sharma, after a nearly decade-long absence.

If there were any doubts about Ranji cricket’s ability to draw a crowd, they were quashed as fans flocked to Mumbai’s BKC Ground, determined to witness the Hitman’s revival tour.