IPL 2025: Rohit Sharma Must Keep his Place in Mumbai Indians Squad despite Lack of Runs | Opinion

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Rohit Sharma is having a torrid period in the IPL 2025 - that's been the notion everywhere. The Mumbai Indians batter has failed to find runs so far in the tournament.

After the first three matches, Rohit has scored only 21 runs. He started with a duck against Chennai Super Kings and then have scored in an ascending manner, but only 8 and 13 in the matches against Gujarat Titans and Kolkata Knight Riders respectively.

In the IPL, over the last few years, Rohit has failed to score prolifically. The veteran has gone past 400-run mark only once in the last five seasons, which is a concerning trend. Despite being a hard-hitter and a player with tremendous pedigree, Rohit's numbers in the IPL speak a contrasting view.

The Mumbaikar's apples discord has not been his captaincy or leadership skills, but the lack of runs from bat. Over the years, Rohit has played 255 IPL matches and he still averages less than 30 - 29.42 to be precise.

Amid this, there is a question regarding Rohit's place in the Mumbai Indians setup. Although his equation with the MI management has been topsy-turvy since last season, the veteran's place at the team is under the cloud. The 37-year-old has only been used as an Impact Player in two of the first three matches, but a continuation of his meagre scoring can mean an expulsion in the course of the season.

But MI may not axe his position too soon, and there are ample reasons behind that. In this article, we shall hover into the reasons why the Paltans shouldn't drop Rohit Sharma from the team.

Why Rohit Sharma Must Keep his Place at MI despite Off-Form

Despite the lean run of scores, there are compelling reasons to keep faith in Rohit Sharma. First and foremost is his proven match-winning ability and class.

This is a batter with over 6000 IPL runs and a truckload of experience. As MI's batting coach reminded everyone, "Rohit has etched his name in history, in record books... He is a legend of the game. Let's not judge him on a couple of low scores."

He added that Rohit has "earned the right... to enjoy his cricket and not be pressurised" after so many accomplishments, expressing confidence that a turnaround is imminent and "we'll be singing his praises" soon enough. Indeed, it only takes one good innings for a player of Rohit's caliber to roar back to form.

Another factor is Rohit's invaluable experience and cricketing acumen, especially with a relatively new captain at the helm. His advice can be critical in crunch situations. Mumbai have historically backed their stalwarts through rough patches, knowing their presence often lifts the dressing room.

From a team balance perspective, it's unclear who replaces Rohit if he is left out. Mumbai's current squad includes some talented but untested top-order options. No one brings the same pedigree. Dropping Rohit might actually unsettle the XI more than it helps.

If we see the way Rohit has performed for the Indian team, we will witness that the Indian captain has taken an ultra-aggressive approach to his innings every time he has come out to bat. That has often cost his wicket at individual low scores, but has been lauded by the experts and fans alike. But for Mumbai Indians, Rohit Sharma probably can take a bit more time. With the kind of batting unit the Paltans have, the veteran can give himself a couple of more deliveries before launching and dominating the bowlers. Perhaps that will help him to get back his form and find the elusive runs that he's looking for this season.