IPL 2025: RCB must take the chance and sign Rohit Sharma, opines former India player

Former India player Mohammad Kaif believes Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) must take the opportunity and sign Rohit Sharma from Mumbai Indians.

Rohit Sharma is poised to leave Mumbai Indians ahead of the IPL 2025. The India captain was stripped of his captaincy duties and had a vivid fallout with the MI management.

Amid Hardik Pandya captaining MI, Rohit Sharma was heard of speaking about a changing atmosphere at the franchise, which also played a big part in their performance as MI failed to qualify for the playoffs.

As the auction approaches later this year, BCCI has ordered the franchises to name their retention list by October 31. The veteran is likely to be omitted and Kaif believes the India star must only play as a captain and leave the franchise.

"Rohit Sharma must play as a captain in IPL. He has been such a huge player and will have multiple takers. Everybody knows franchises will be talking to him to play for them. Like Hardik Pandya came to Mumbai from Gujarat, Rohit Sharma can also leave. And he must leave [Mumbai Indians]. He must play the final two to three years as captain in IPL," Kaif said while speaking with Star Sports.

"The quality he possesses as a leader is very rare and no one has it in the IPL. Name any player who has won the IPL 5 times, even when people were questioning in the T20 World Cup, he delivered by winning the trophy," he added.

The former player also believes RCB must take the chance to sign Rohit Sharma as captain as that may end their long wait for an IPL trophy.

"Ye chance lena chahiye RCB ko, 100 per cent keh raha hoon. As a leader, khelne wala role jo banta hain, wo Rohit Sharma jante hain. RCB ka bhala hoga, unke fans ka bhala hoga. Jo wahaan sukha pada hain, trophy kabhi ayi nahi unke haat mein, wo kaam poora ho sakta hain (RCB must take this chance, I am telling for sure. As a leader, Rohit Sharma knows how a player must hone his role. And if he arrives, it will be great for RCB and their fans. The trophy drought they have can end with Rohit's arrival)," Kaif further said.

It is to be seen if RCB can lure Rohit to the franchise, which will be a monumental moment in the history of the game. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli playing for the same franchise can sky-high their brand value, but Bengaluru will have to pay a hefty amount in order to sign Rohit, who won't have any shortage of suitors.