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It was a Rohit Sharma special at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur as the former India captain scored an eye-catching century for Mumbai.
Sawai Mansingh Stadium saw an estimated 20,000 spectators turn up for a Vijay Hazare Trophy group-stage match between Mumbai and Sikkim on Christmas Eve, far exceeding the expected crowd of 3,000 for the weekday morning fixture, thus having almost 600 per cent more crowd at the stadium than expected, 567 per cent to be precise.
The venue, which hosts IPL games annually and a T20I in 2021, filled to capacity by the start of play, with only a section near the dressing rooms left empty for security.
Sikkim scored 237 in the first innings. Mumbai chased the target with an eight-wicket victory, led by Rohit Sharma's
155 off 94 balls, including a century in 62 deliveries and nine sixes.
Rohit hit a six into the stands in the second over and another into the Rajasthan Sports Council offices inside the stadium the following over. The crowd, mostly young men who skipped work or school, created a festive atmosphere.
The turnout recalled a January crowd of over 12,000 at Delhi's Feroz Shah Kotla for Virat Kohli's last Ranji Trophy match in first-class cricket. Kohli played domestic cricket in Bengaluru on the same day, but that match was held without spectators.
Rohit, India's white-ball captain, is fulfilling a BCCI requirement for senior players to participate in domestic cricket. Mumbai's next match is against Uttarakhand on Saturday.
Elsewhere, Virat Kohli showcased his class with a brilliant 131 for Delhi against Andhra as the former won the match by 4 wickets. Kohli's knock unfortunately had no viewers as it was played closed doors at the BCCI CoE ground in Bengaluru.
The first round of the Vijay Hazare Trophy also proved to be a scintillating one for Bengal, as they chased down 383 runs against Vidarbha. Apart from them, Gujarat, Saurashtra, Punjab also ended with victory in their respective opening matches.
