Mumbai Indians former captain Rohit Sharma has become a hot topic of discussion already, with just one day into the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League.
The veteran batter was dismissed for a four-ball duck in the high-octane game of Mumbai Indians against Chennai Super Kings. A forgettable start to the season, post his dismissal, former cricketers K. Srikkanth and Shane Watson also voiced their opinions during the commentary.
Former CSK all-rounder, Watson opined that Rohit Sharma should get used to facing a few balls to get prior to his power-hitting shots. He registered his 18th duck in IPL, the joint most by any batter in the tournament. Srikkanth too resonated with Watson’s thoughts, stating the opener has been going after the bowlers from the first ball itself and must take time to find the middle of the bat.
CSK might be the rulers of IPL but MI are the ones who conquer the rulers. pic.twitter.com/DU5MYJIOoy
— Mumbai Indians FC (@MIPaltanFamily) March 22, 2025
As far as Rohit Sharma’s previous performances of IPL are concerned, right from 2013 the Indian team captain has not managed to inch past the 500-run mark. His total runs scored in every season and the corresponding strike rate have indicated a downward growth, creating a need for a deep reflection to be carried out at his end.
| Year | Matches Played | Runs | SR |
| 2014 | 15 | 390 | 129.13 |
| 2015 | 16 | 482 | 144.74 |
| 2016 | 14 | 489 | 132.88 |
| 2017 | 17 | 333 | 121.97 |
| 2018 | 14 | 286 | 133 |
| 2019 | 15 | 405 | 128.57 |
| 2020 | 12 | 332 | 127.69 |
| 2021 | 13 | 381 | 127.42 |
| 2022 | 14 | 268 | 120.18 |
| 2023 | 16 | 332 | 132.8 |
| 2024 | 14 | 417 | 150 |
The slipping performance levels show the lack-luster and possibly suggest the T20 format is not something Rohit is comfortable playing in, considering his retirement from it post the T20 World Cup win last year.
Or may be his heart is no longer in the IPL, or the events surrounding the contentious leadership change in his franchise took a toll on him. The poor start has naturally sparked a little frisson of concern on his future course of trajectory.
More than the lack of runs, Rohit hasn’t looked ‘in the mood’, which has translated into addled shot-selection early in the innings yesterday; almost like a self-imposed presence while facing the bowler.
His retirement from the T20 format post the ICC World Cup title last year may possibly answer the doubt regarding his form in the shortest format of the game. Rohit’s fitness levels and rising age to maintain continuous on field movement have also been questioned by cricket analysts.
Meanwhile, in the El classico match between the Chennai Super Kings led by Gaikwad and Suryakumar Yadav led Mumbai Indians, the Chepauk army comfortably chased down the target of 156, riding on a splendid half-century from the stunner Rachin Ravindra.
As a result, MI ended up losing their fourth consecutive game against CSK, certainly not a season-opener the five-time title winners anticipated.
