Rohit Sharma to play West Zone Twenty20

Rohit Sharma has been drafted into the Mumbai squad as a last-minute addition for the West Zone Twenty20 tournament starting in Rajkot on Thursday. The India middle-order batsman, who broke his index finger courtesy a Stuart Broad scorcher in the first ODI at Chester-le-Street on September 3, had a long stint under the watchful eyes of Mumbai Cricket Association joint-secretary Nitin Dalal on Tuesday.

“He looked good and we have decided to send him to Rajkot for the matches on October 22 (Saurashtra) and 24 (Maharashtra). Rohit won’t play the opener against Baroda on Thursday,” Dalal informed.

Sharma, who joined his teammates on Wednesday, said he can’t wait to play again. “I hope such freak injuries don’t happen again,” he said. The frustration in his voice was understandable. After all, he was adjudged Man of the Series in the five-match ODI rubber in the West Indies a few months ago. The England tour could have done wonders to his CV, but all he got there was pain.