IPL 2025: Rohit Sharma is 'Hurting His Legacy' Now, It's His Time to Leave, Says India Legend

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IPL 2025: As the 2025 Indian Premier League season heats up, one name is dominating headlines-not for brilliance, but for a painful dip in form. Rohit Sharma, a five-time IPL-winning captain with Mumbai Indians and one of India's most celebrated batters, finds himself under the scanner for a string of underwhelming performances.

With scores of 0, 8, 13, 17, 18, and 28 so far this season, his bat has gone quiet, and concerns over his future in the format are growing louder. One of the most scathing assessments came from none other than Virender Sehwag.

Speaking to Cricbuzz, the former India opener didn't hold back while addressing Rohit's struggles. "Ab uska jaane ka time aa gaya," Sehwag said bluntly, urging the veteran to consider retirement from the IPL. The comment, translated as "It's time for him to go," reflects the growing sentiment among fans and pundits that the 36-year-old may be risking his legacy by overstaying.

Rohit, used as an Impact Player against Sunrisers Hyderabad recently, was dismissed for 26 by Pat Cummins -- a rare start that never truly looked convincing. His total runs after six matches stand at just 82, averaging a meagre 13.66. For a player of his stature, those numbers are alarming.

Sehwag went deeper into the analysis, pointing out a long-standing trend in Rohit's IPL career. "If you look at Rohit's IPL numbers in the last 10 years, he scored more than 400 runs only once," he said, suggesting that Rohit hasn't chased personal milestones in the league the way some others have. But this mindset, while selfless, may be coming at a cost.

"When he became the Indian captain, he said that he wanted to cash in on the powerplay and take chances... but he is not considering the fact that when he is not performing, it is your legacy that is getting hurt," Sehwag warned.

Rohit's dismissals have also raised technical concerns, with Sehwag pointing out his vulnerability to short-pitched bowling. "He has been getting out to that pull shot many times... He should decide that in one innings, he will not play the pull shot at all. But who will explain it to him?" Sehwag mused, reminiscing about how during his playing days, senior players like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sourav Ganguly would step in with advice when needed.

Amid Rohit's slump, the Mumbai Indians have managed to string together some momentum. Their recent win over Sunrisers Hyderabad was powered by Jasprit Bumrah's precision and a handy all-round effort from Will Jacks, who scored 36 and picked up two wickets. The victory lifted MI to seventh on the table with six points-offering some relief but not enough to overshadow the Rohit conundrum.

The big question now isn't just about form -- it's about legacy. Rohit Sharma, one of the IPL's original superstars, stands at a crossroads. Whether he chooses to walk away on his own terms or battles to script one last chapter of redemption remains to be seen.