There has been strong speculation that Rohit Sharma is likely to leave Mumbai Indians (MI) from the next Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Right from Lucknow Super Giants, Punjab Kings to even Delhi Capitals, there has been constant speculation that the former MI captain Rohit Sharma would join any of these teams.
Rohit Sharma’s Mumbai Indians career is over. Well, it’s not me who thinks this but the former Indian cricketer, who feels that the five-time IPL-winning-captain is unlikely to continue with the franchise where he spent over a decade. The BCCI is yet to announce the retention policy and the dates for the IPL 2025 mega-auction but Rohit Sharma’s future with Mumbai Indians has been the talk of the town for the last few months.
Rohit Sharma’s stellar contribution for Mumbai Indians
After leading India to victory in the T20 World Cup 2024, Rohit Sharma had announced his retirement from T20I cricket. Following this, Virat Kohli also revealed his decision to retire from the format. So, for batting icons like Rohit and Virat, IPL will apparently become more important as it is their only chance to play T20 cricket.
India captain Rohit Sharma played his 200th match for Mumbai Indians in Indian Premier League (IPL) history. The former MI captain will play his milestone match for Mumbai when he took the field as a player against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. He is just the 3rd player to play 200 IPL games for a franchise after Virat Kohli (RCB) and MS Dhoni (CSK).
The Mumbai-based franchise picked Rohit Sharma in the IPL 2011 mega auction. He has been an absolute legend for the Mumbai Indians since then. In 14 years in Blue and Gold clothing, Rohit has played 199 IPL matches, scoring 5,084 runs at an average of 29.39 and a strike rate of 129.86. He has scored a century and 34 fifties in 195 innings for MI, with the best score of 109*
He took over the Mumbai Indians captaincy from Ricky Ponting in 2013. Rohit won the first title for MI in his debut year as captain. He took Mumbai to their golden period, winning the trophy five times in 10 years (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020) and reaching playoffs twice. Rohit Sharma is an institution in himself. He shaped the career trajectories of many future Indian stars like Ishan Kishan, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, and Ambati Rayudu, among others.
Tensions arose between Rohit Sharma and the Mumbai Indians when Hardik Pandya, who was acquired from the Gujarat Titans, was appointed as the team captain, replacing Rohit Sharma prior to the IPL 2024 auction.
Former Mumbai Indians (MI) player Pragyan Ojha has shared his thoughts on Rohit Sharma’s future with the franchise. Ojha, who won two IPL titles with MI and played alongside Rohit for four years, believes Rohit should remain with MI. In an exclusive chat with Insidesport, Ojha emphasized that parting with Rohit would be challenging for MI. He praised Rohit’s growth as both a captain and player, expressing his personal view that Rohit should continue with the franchise into IPL 2025.
Former Mumbai Indians player Pragyan Ojha suggests Rohit Sharma to continue playing for MI in IPL 2025
Former Mumbai Indians (MI) left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha reckons Rohit Sharma should continue playing for the franchise in the IPL. Terming the ace batter an integral part of MI, Ojha added that it will be difficult for both the franchise and the player if they decide to part ways.
Rohit Sharma has been a stalwart for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Under his leadership, the franchise won five titles. However, things took a drastic turn when the MI franchise sacked him as captain ahead of the IPL 2024 season and named all-rounder Hardik Pandya the new leader.
While Rohit Sharma played under Pandya in IPL 2024, numerous reports have claimed that the former skipper is all set to leave the Mumbai franchise. His former teammate Ojha, though, feels that the batting star must continue representing Mumbai Indians. In an interview with Insidesport, he said :
“It won’t be easy if that happens (Rohit leaving Mumbai Indians). Personally, I would say that Rohit should continue to play for Mumbai Indians because of the contribution that he’s made. And he has grown as a captain, as a player. The stature that he is in today, is somewhere connected to Mumbai Indians.”
“So I would say that if he stays there – well and good. But if he moves on, that’s how it is. Because this is a franchise tournament and sometimes these things happen,” Ojha went on to add.
The former India left-arm spinner represented Mumbai Indians from 2012 to 2015 and was part of two title triumphs under Rohit’s leadership.
“I feel Rohit will probably be released” – Aakash Chopra
Earlier, another former India cricketer Aakash Chopra opined that Rohit’s association with the Mumbai Indians franchise might end ahead of the 2025 IPL season.
According to Chopra, Rohit might leave the franchise or MI might release him. Speaking on his YouTube channel, the former India opener responded to a fan query and commented:
“Anything can happen but I don’t think Rohit is going to be retained here. I don’t have any information but I feel Rohit will probably be released. He might go to someone in the trade window, that’s a possibility that he doesn’t go to the auction, but if that doesn’t happen, he might be seen in the auction. I feel his journey with the Mumbai Indians is over”
Rohit has featured in 221 matches for MI and has scored 5731 runs at an average of 29.69 and a strike rate of 131.05, with two hundreds and 36 half-centuries.