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 Ajinkya Rahane has backed his team-mate Rohit Sharma to get a big one as the India Test captain returns to the Ranji Trophy after low returns in his last eight Tests this season. In the three Tests in Australia and five at home before that, Rohit managed only 164 runs from 15 inings to average a dismal 10.93.

Rohit now returns to the domestic cricket - although likely for one round before the ODIs against England - along with many other Indian Test Players  such as Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal and possibly Virat Kohli.

What is important is he is hungry, he is determined to do well, Rahane said of Rohit on the eve of Mumbai's next fixture starting on Thursday. "I am sure once he gets in, he will get a big one.

"Rohit has always been relaxed. Even playing at the international level, his character is similar. His attitude is pretty much relaxed. He knows his game really well so, no one has to tell him what he needs to do.

After the coming round in which Mumbai host Jammu & Kashmir at home, Rohit will captain India against England in a three-match ODI series starting on February 6 followed by the Champions Trophy.

I think he's only playing this game; not sure about the next game, Rahane said of Rohit's availability. His inputs in the next four days will be really important.

Mumbai also have Jaiswal for the upcoming round, although he was among India's better batters on the tour of Australia, with a knock of 161 in Perth at the start of the series and twin half-centuries in Melbourne. Rahane said the return of Rohit and Jaiswal would add a lot of value in the dressing room too.

As a team, [and] individually, players are going up to them [and] asking questions, learning from them," Rahane said. "Once they are on the field, I am sure the players will watch them and they'll learn a lot of things from them."

Rohit and Jaiswal are expected to open together for a star-studded Mumbai line-up that will also see Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube and Shardul Thakur along with other domestic stars such as Shams Mulani, Siddhesh Lad and Tanush Kotian.