The two-time champions are on a roll, second in the league, back to back victories against in from Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad. They have done all this by performing well in both departments of the game, but they still have a major concern in terms of skipper Rohit Sharma’s form. The leader of the Mumbai Indian is having a horrendous campaign so far, he has managed scores of 3, 2,4 and duck-out against the Sunrisers, his total of 9 runs in four matches with an average of 2.25 is very very poor, especially when Sharma is considered as a prolific run getter in all formats of the game. This is the first time that Rohit Sharma has been dismissed for four consecutive single-digit scores in T20 cricket. For a player of his calibre, one would expect a match-winning knock already, or a stellar 100 to say the least.

Nobody questions winning 

The stat shows that the skipper is going through difficult times but the team is winning and as long as the team is winning nobody questions how Rohit Sharma as a batsman is performing. When you compare Sharma’s stats with MS Dhoni’s, then Mahi has performed relatively well but has been slaughtered by the media for poor display. The Rising Supergiant is struggling in IPL and Dhoni is getting all the blame for their poor performance. As long as Mumbai keeps winning, nobody’s going to question Rohit Sharma’s poor batting performance, meaning he can get out making zero runs but headlines will run Rohit Sharma’s sensational catch. 

 Rohit Sharma as an opener 

Rohit Sharma is no doubt one of the best batsmen in the side by far, from 2011 till date, he has played 109 matches for MI in which he has scored 2986 runs at an average of 33.93 and a strike rate of 131.13, which is astonishing in the shortest format of the game. 

Rohit Sharma is the perfect opening batsman. Period. However, strangely, for Mumbai, he isn’t opening the innings. Sharma has scored 264 runs, the highest one-day score by a cricketer, as an opener. The reason he should open the innings is because he is the best batsman in the squad. If he opens, he gets more time to settle down and then play the innings he is capable of.

The Mumbai batsman has batted twice at number three and once at number four. His form is extremely crucial for his team and he is better off opening the innings rather than batting in the middle order.

 Champions Trophy 

Mumbai Indians skipper needs to get his act together if he wants to be part of the Champions Trophy which is scheduled to take place in June. Virat Kohli wants to win and retain the trophy, he will want his squad to be in top form. As for Mumbai Indians to win the IPL for the third time, Sharma’s form will be vital, he is their best batsman and on his day can decimate any bowling attack in the world. 

Source: NYOOOZ DESK - IPL