As captain, Rohit faced some significant challenges. Before the Test series against Australia, India suffered their first home Test series defeat in 12 years, losing 0-3 to New Zealand. This was also India's first-ever whitewash in a home Test series since 2000.

Mumbai bowlers helped the team claw back into the game against Jammu and Kashmir with a gritty performance late on Day 1. The bowlers rescued the team after a batting horror-show where the side was bowled out for just 120 runs in the first innings.

Rohit wasn't alone in his struggles during the match. His opening partner, Yashasvi Jaiswal, was dismissed cheaply for just 5 runs, and while Ajinkya Rahane showed some signs of promise, he too was out for just 12. The pressure on Mumbai’s top order continued to mount, with the team facing a tough challenge on the day.