After enduring a tough start to the IPL 2025 season, Mumbai Indians opener Rohit Sharma has silenced critics with two commanding back-to-back half-centuries, signaling a return to form. But even amid renewed success, the 38-year-old is making it clear—he won’t change his high-risk style of play, even if it leads to inconsistency.
Rohit smashed an unbeaten 76 off 45 balls against Chennai Super Kings at Wankhede on April 20, followed by 70 off 46 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 23, helping MI secure crucial wins. Despite these strong performances, his aggressive approach had drawn criticism earlier in the season due to frequent early dismissals.
Speaking to journalist Vimal Kumar, Rohit addressed the debate surrounding his batting strategy:
“Main game nahi change karoonga! The team has given me a role, and I will continue playing that. Milestones wala game nahi hai mera (My game is not about chasing milestones). My focus is on contributing runs. Who doesn’t like making runs? I certainly do! But I’m tired of repeating the same answer for years now.”
Rohit admitted that he does get frustrated when the runs don’t come but emphasized that abandoning his natural game isn’t the solution.
“It’s a risky approach, yes. But that doesn’t mean I don’t care about getting out or that I’m not trying to contribute. I just believe this is the way I can best help the team.”
Team Success Over Orange Cap
Rohit also pointed out a crucial stat that supports his team-first philosophy: in all five IPL titles that MI has won, no player from the franchise has ever claimed the Orange Cap.
“That says a lot about how we operate. For me, it’s always about team wins—not personal runs.”
Controlled Aggression Is Key
While he prefers to go hard in the powerplay, Rohit clarified that he doesn’t plan to be reckless throughout the innings.
“Aise hi pagalon ki tarah nahi kheloonga (I won’t bat like a madman the whole game). The plan is to capitalize early, but post powerplay, I change gears. Yes, I haven’t had great numbers in recent years, but I’m not worried. The team trusts me, and I trust myself.”
As Mumbai Indians continue their playoff push under new skipper Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma’s experience and renewed form could prove vital. But for the ‘Hitman,’ it’s clear—the thrill of risk and the joy of team victories will always outweigh the pursuit of individual accolades.
