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Former England captain Michael Vaughan has sparked a debate over Rohit Sharma’s place in the Mumbai Indians (MI) squad for the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. With Rohit struggling for runs, Vaughan believes that if it weren’t for his stature and immense popularity, his position in the playing XI would have been in jeopardy.
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Rohit Sharma’s Poor Form in IPL 2025
Rohit Sharma, one of MI’s most successful players, has had a disastrous start to IPL 2025. In three matches so far, the veteran opener has managed scores of 0, 8, and 13, failing to make an impact at the top of the order.
Moreover, his overall IPL numbers in the past few seasons have not been up to the mark. Rohit hasn’t crossed the 400-run mark in any of the last six IPL seasons, which is a cause for concern for both MI and their fans.
Michael Vaughan’s Blunt Assessment
Speaking on Cricbuzz, Vaughan pointed out that since Rohit Sharma is no longer the captain of MI, he should be evaluated solely based on his batting performances. According to Vaughan, Rohit’s recent numbers are far from what is expected of a top-order batter, especially in a tournament as competitive as the IPL.
“Remember, you are judging Rohit just as a batter now because he’s not the captain of Mumbai Indians anymore. No, I think you can’t get away with average numbers, and they are average numbers,” Vaughan said.
He further added that if it were any other player struggling with such numbers, he might have already lost his place in the team.
“If your name is 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 emphasized.
Although Vaughan acknowledged Rohit’s leadership skills and tactical acumen, he stressed that now that he is not leading MI, his only job is to contribute as a batter, and he needs to deliver with the bat.
“He needs runs. I am not saying MI will drop him immediately, but it becomes a problem when your star player, your most senior batter at the top of the order, is struggling. The dressing room looks at him to set the tone, and right now, that’s missing,” Vaughan concluded.
Mumbai Indians Finally Register Their First Win in IPL 2025
Despite Rohit Sharma’s ongoing struggles, Mumbai Indians secured their first win of the season on March 31, defeating Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by eight wickets at Wankhede Stadium.
- Ashwani Kumar (4/24) on IPL debut helped MI bowl out KKR for just 116—the lowest total of IPL 2025 so far.
- Ryan Rickelton (62 off 41 balls) played a match-winning knock, guiding MI to victory in just 12.5 overs.
What’s Next for Rohit Sharma?
With MI now back to winning ways, all eyes will be on Rohit Sharma’s performance in the upcoming matches. Will he rediscover his form and silence his critics, or will MI be forced to reconsider their top-order strategy? The coming games will be crucial for the Hitman’s IPL 2025 campaign.
