Playing only his fourth First-Class match, Rohan Rajbhar scored his maiden century, bringing up 140 off 263 balls with 11 fours and a six, as Rajasthan secured a lead of 222 runs against Himachal Pradesh on Day Two of their Group ‘D’ Ranji Trophy match in Dharamshala on Tuesday.Displaying rock-solid defence and executing exquisite strokes, Rohan anchored Rajasthan’s powerful comeback alongside Mahipal Lomror (97 off 190), with whom he stitched a crucial partnership of 209 runs.Upon reaching the landmark hundred, Rohan soaked in the applause, took off his helmet, and pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket to reveal a heartfelt message written on it: ‘Thank You Maa’. His marathon knock finally came to an end when he was stumped off an Abhishek Kumar delivery.
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For the 20-year-old, the milestone is the sweet fruit of an arduous journey born out of humble beginnings. His father, Vijay, who works as a POP (Plaster of Paris) contractor, always wanted his son to become a cricketer, so he sent Rohan to a cricket academy when he was just four years old. To make sure his son did not miss out on the opportunity, the father even borrowed money initially to cover the fees and buy his son the cricket gear.Growing up in a cramped one-room house where fans had to be switched off while his mother cooked in the shared space, Rohan learned early on what grit truly means. Reflecting on his special celebration, Rohan told TOI, “The message written on the paper was for my mother. She has never been able to watch my matches live at the stadium anywhere, so I knew she would be watching it on TV today. This hundred was for her.”He also credited senior pro Mahipal for steering him through tense moments. “Even on Day One when things weren’t going well, Mahipal bhai came up to me in the evening and kept encouraging me, telling me that I belong at this level and will do well. Out in the middle too, whenever my scoring slowed down or I played a reckless shot, he constantly guided and supported me.”That steely temperament draws deep inspiration from his idol, Hardik Pandya, whose peace symbol tattoo Rohan sports on his neck. The youngster’s admiration goes beyond cricket. He still vividly remembers when Hardik faced hostile booing across stadiums in India after he left Gujarat Titans and returned to Mumbai Indians as captain. “I had gone to see an IPL match at the SMS Stadium in 2024. I felt bad seeing a section of the spectators booing Hardik. I have great respect for him because of the way he has conducted himself in the face of criticism, and in life in general,” Rohan added.Meanwhile, the day belonged entirely to Rajasthan’s remarkable redemption. Having been bundled out for a paltry 78 in their first innings, the visitors staged a phenomenal turnaround. After a disciplined first session where they lost just one wicket, the visitors pressed home their advantage with complete authority. It was only after tea that three wickets fell, including a heartbreaking end for Mahipal, who fell just three runs short of a well-deserved hundred after being caught by the wicketkeeper off medium-pacer Arpit Guleria.At stumps, Rajasthan reached a commanding 297/4, with captain Kartik Sharma and Vishal Harsh at the crease.
