 "Rohit Sharma was asked to retire by fans before being benched by MI. Images: Reuters/AP")
Another batting failure by former Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has experts and fans questioning his place in the five-time winners’ playing XI. Since handing over the captaincy to Hardik Pandya, Rohit’s only major role for the team has been to be impactful with the bat. However, the batter, who has already retired from T20Is, has only scored 21 runs in three innings so far in IPL 2025.
Mumbai Indians lost two out of those matches in which Rohit scored a duck and eight runs respectively. On Monday, he scored 13 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium as MI won the low-scorer by eight wickets .
Rohit’s form has emerged as a major concern for MI as they look to turn around their fortunes in IPL 2025 after losing their first two matches and finishing at the bottom in the 2024 edition. Rohit’s impact has been reducing with every season as he has scored 400+ runs only once in the last five seasons.
Vaughan questions Rohit’s place in Mumbai Indians team
Former England captain Michael Vaughan minced no words last night as he gave his assessment of the Rohit situation at the MI. He said the 37-year-old is having “average” numbers and he is only surviving in the team on the basis of his past performances.
“You look at his numbers, you’ve got to remember, we’re judging Rohit just as a batter now, because he’s not the captain. Now, I think you can get away with average numbers, and they’re average numbers. If your name’s not Rohit Sharma, you’re probably losing your place in the side at some stage with those numbers. They’re not good enough for a player like Rohit Sharma,” Vaughan said on Cricbuzz.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“But if he’s the captain as well, and he’s adding his knowledge of being a leader, the culture creator that he is, tactician that he is, and I see it on a regular basis with India, and I’ve seen it with Mumbai in the past, I cannot cope with those numbers. But when you’re just the batter now, that’s how we have to judge Rohit Sharma because he isn’t the captain. He needs runs,” he added.
Vaughan, however, feels the franchise will still give the veteran a few more chances though he’s not sure why he is not the captain when he is the skipper for India’s Test and ODI teams.
“I’m not saying that they’ll get rid of him. I’m not going to drop him. Come on, get us off to a start. Get your flow back, get your rhythm back, get your mojo back. Because for Mumbai to go and put right what they’ve not done right in the first two games, it does require that senior core to produce,” added Vaughan.
“I always scratch my head with Rohit Sharma in Mumbai. I always think, if he’s good enough to be the Indian captain, how is he not captain in Mumbai? I can always say that because I just don’t get it. He’s a wonderful captain for India. He’s done a great job,” Vaughan said.
“You’ll have to look at what’s happened in the last couple of years with the whiteboard scene. Now, if he’s deemed the best person to captain the national side, how can he not be the best person to captain the franchise team? He’s going to play the whole season. I’m probably stirring up another pot from last year.”
Mumbai Indians ask Rohit to retire ‘gracefully’
The Mumbai Indians fans were equally unforgiving of Rohit after his latest failure. Some of them compared him to MS Dhoni while others felt it was time for him to leave the franchise.
“Sorry to say but Dhoni is playing much better cricket in his end career than Rohit Sharma who think he can play till 2027,” a fan wrote on X.
“Yes now we are carrying Rohit Sharma. Boy please go home enjoy time with ur family and give ur place to a youngster,” another fan said.
Another MI supporter said that it was time for Rohit to retire before he was made to sit on the bench.
“By dragging his career now, Rohit Sharma is not doing any favour to himself. With every game, he is denting his own legacy at MI. Rohit Sharma should gracefully retired before ruthless MI make him sit on bench.”
Rohit is expected to be back in action on 4 April in IPL 2025. He will hope to rediscover his form as Mumbai face Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) away from home.