IPL 2025: Rohit Sharma can't rely on his 'talent and instinct' anymore, need to train hard, says former India cricketer

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Rohit Sharma finds himself at a crossroads in IPL 2025, with former cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar suggesting that the veteran batter can no longer rely purely on talent and instinct.

Instead, Manjrekar believes that rigorous training and self-discipline are now imperative for the former Mumbai Indians captain to keep up with the ever-evolving demands of the game.

At 37, Rohit's recent performances have raised concerns, particularly in Mumbai Indians' opening two matches of the season. His campaign began on a disappointing note, with a four-ball duck against Chennai Super Kings, undone by the sharp pace of Khaleel Ahmed. In the following match, his struggles continued as he managed just 8 runs off 4 balls against Gujarat Titans, failing to provide the start his team desperately needed.

Manjrekar, speaking on JioStar, emphasised that Rohit's game is going through a transition, and he needs to push himself harder than ever before. "Rohit Sharma is clearly going through a phase. He's not the Rohit Sharma of, say, three to four years ago. He's at a stage in his career where he has to push himself every morning -- train hard and be at his best -- because things are slipping away for him. He's still relying on his natural talent and instincts," said Manjrekar.

The struggle isn't limited to the IPL alone. Rohit's form in international cricket has been under the scanner for a while now. His dry spell in Test cricket, which began during India's home series against Bangladesh in September 2024, continued through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Across this difficult phase, his highest score was 52, with an average of just 10.93 -- a sharp decline for someone who was once a mainstay in India's batting lineup.

Even in the ICC Champions Trophy, despite India's title-winning campaign, Rohit failed to make significant contributions apart from a lone fifty in the final against New Zealand. Though his aggressive starts proved crucial, the lack of big scores highlighted an underlying inconsistency that has now seeped into his IPL performances.

With Mumbai Indians reeling from back-to-back losses in IPL 2025, the spotlight remains on Rohit. His new opening partner, Ryan Rickelton, is also struggling to adapt to Indian conditions, further compounding MI's batting woes.