IPL 2023: Only Miracle Can Help Mumbai Qualify For Playoffs, Rohit Sharma Should Take a Break: Sunil Gavaskar

IPL 2023: Following Mumbai Indians' (MI) 55-run defeat against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Tuesday, batting great Sunil Gavaskar has said that team's captain Rohit Sharma should take a break and keep himself fit for the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final which will kick start from June 7.

Gavaskar reckoned that the 35-year-old was seemingly preoccupied with thoughts about the WTC final. Gavaskar added that the opener can play the last few matches for Mumbai to be in rhythm for the marquee even to be played at The Oval in London.

"I would like to see some change in the batting order [for Mumbai Indians]," Gavaskar said on Star Sports on Tuesday. In the match Rohit was dismissed for two runs off 8 balls. Overall, he has scored 181 runs in seven matches at an average of 25.85 and a strike rate of 135.07.

"Honestly, I would also say that Rohit should maybe also take a break for the time being, and keep himself fit for the World Test Championship [final]. [He can] come back again for the last few matches, but right now, [he should] take a little bit of a breather himself.

"He is looking just that little bit preoccupied. Maybe at this stage he is thinking about the WTC [final], I don't know. But I do believe that at this stage he needs a little bit of a break, and come back for the last three or four matches so that he is in rhythm for the World Test Championship [final]."

Only miracle can make Mumbai Indians qualify for playoffs

Further, Gavaskar also stated that the possibility of Mumbai to qualify for the IPL 2023 play-offs was bleak after four defeats in seven matches. The seventh-placed side can at best finish fourth as per Gavaskar but only if they play "extraordinary" cricket.

"It's going to be a miracle that's going to make them qualify [for the IPL playoffs]. The way they are at the moment, yes, they could conceivably finish [at number] four, but they will have to play some extraordinary cricket, both batting as well as bowling".

Mumbai will next face Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Sunday, April 30 at the Wankhede Stadium.