Mumbai Indians opener Rohit Sharma silenced his critics with a match-winning unbeaten half-century in a dominant win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Wankhede Stadium. The stylish batsman, who had been struggling with form in the ongoing IPL 2025, expressed that despite a prolonged rough patch, he never doubted his abilities.
In a dazzling display, Rohit scored 76* off 45 balls, smashing four boundaries and six sixes. His innings, alongside Suryakumar Yadav’s blistering knock, guided MI to a nine-wicket victory, with the duo sharing an unbroken 114-run partnership. Speaking after receiving the ‘Player of the Match’ award, Rohit shared his mindset during the lean phase.
“After being in this game for so long, it’s easy to start doubting yourself when things aren’t going your way. But I’ve always believed in the importance of practice. You’ve got to hit the ball well and stay mentally clear. When your mind is in the right space, things like this can happen,” Rohit said.
The 36-year-old emphasized that while it’s natural to face struggles, doubting oneself only adds unnecessary pressure. He remained committed to sticking to his natural game. “It’s been a while, but if you doubt yourself, you put unnecessary pressure. It’s important to keep balance, stay true to your style of play, and stay calm. I knew I had to hit the ball well and wait for the right opportunities,” he added.
In a heartwarming moment, Rohit also acknowledged the honor of having one of the stands at Wankhede Stadium named after him. “It’s a huge honor. I used to come here as a kid to watch the games, and now to have this recognition—it’s quite special. I don’t know how I’ll react when the stand is actually up, but the most satisfying part was finishing the game today,” he said.
Following their victory, Mumbai Indians moved to sixth place in the points table with four wins. Rohit reflected on the team’s recent momentum, noting, “We are peaking at the right time, winning three in a row. Back-to-back wins are crucial, and we’re in a good position.”
MI’s captain, Hardik Pandya, also expressed confidence in Rohit’s return to form. “We never worried about Rohit’s form because we know it will come. We knew once he gets going, the opposition is in trouble. And Surya’s partnership with him was vital,” Hardik said, highlighting the simplicity and clarity with which the team is playing.
On the other hand, CSK’s captain MS Dhoni admitted that his team had not performed to its potential. CSK posted a modest total of 175/5, with contributions from Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja. Dhoni acknowledged that they were “below par” and needed to adapt better to conditions. “We should have started our slog earlier, and we didn’t have a par score. We must understand that we win because we play good cricket, and we shouldn’t get too emotional,” Dhoni said.
With CSK languishing at the bottom of the points table, Dhoni hinted at the need for introspection and possibly looking ahead to next season. “We’ll take it one game at a time. If we don’t qualify for the playoffs, we’ll focus on combinations for the next season,” he added.
