New Delhi: As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 progresses, Mumbai Indians’ head coach Mahela Jayawardene has found himself addressing mounting concerns over Rohit Sharma’s form. The Mumbai Indians icon, known for his impressive past performances, has been struggling with low scores in recent matches. His return to the team after injury has done little to alleviate the concerns, as Rohit continues to face challenges at the crease.
Rohit’s recent innings in IPL 2025 have been underwhelming, with scores of 0, 8, 13, and 17 in his four matches. His role as an Impact Substitute this season has been met with mixed results, and his dismissal by Royal Challengers Bengaluru pacer Yash Dayal for 17 off nine balls has raised further questions about his form.
Mahela Jayawardene acknowledges that Mumbai Indians are struggling in the powerplay phase, both in batting and bowling. The team has been leaking runs in the initial stages, which has often led to counter-attacks from opponents that they struggle to contain. “The powerplay is a concern for us with the ball and the bat,” Jayawardene noted at a press conference, highlighting the need for better strategic response to opposition aggression.
Rohit’s vulnerability against left-arm pacers has been a recurring theme since IPL 2024. He has been dismissed seven times out of 17 innings by left-arm seamers, a trend that Jayawardene attributes to natural batting challenges faced by right-handed batsmen. However, Jayawardene credits Yash Dayal’s skillful delivery rather than solely blaming Rohit for the dismissal. He emphasized that Rohit has been working hard and that his experience will see him through this challenging period.
Jayawardene expressed confidence in Rohit’s ability to bounce back, drawing on his past successes and the team’s continued support for its experienced players. Despite current form issues, Rohit is expected to play a pivotal role in turning around Mumbai Indians’ fortunes as the season progresses.
