Another chapter is over for Rohit Sharma. The modern-day great, who has achieved so much in his career, has to step aside from the format he used to adore. The reason was simple – the management didn’t have enough trust in Rohit Sharma, the Test batter. After a horrible Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), Rohit’s Test career was under dark clouds.
The current ODI captain just recently led the nation to its second ICC title in as many years when the Men in Blue lifted the ICC Champions Trophy crown in Dubai earlier this year. However, before that, there was a massive disparity between Rohit’s form in white-ball and red-ball cricket. The 2024/25 Test season, which included two home series, paved the way for Rohit’s downfall. In fact, he averaged a mere 10.93 after eight Tests (164 runs), a period that ended with Rohit himself stepping down for the team’s cause in Australia.
Test aspirations loomed large for Rohit in IPL 2025
However, the 38-year-old reaffirmed that it wasn’t the end of his Test career. Although India failed to win the BGT for the first time in a decade, Rohit persisted. While many pundits and fans asked Rohit to move on, he still yearned for more success as a Test leader.
India’s next massive Test assignment was going to be a crucial 5-match Test series against England. The management was clear after the BGT that they would only take a call on Rohit’s Test future after his performance in the IPL 2025. And that’s where, my friend, the Mumbai Indians (MI) got a rather trembling version of Rohit Sharma. The former MI captain, who led the franchise to five titles in eight years, was a shadow of a batter in the first half of the IPL 2025. Who knows if making a case for himself for the England series was going on the back of his head?
In fact, in the first five innings of IPL 2025, Rohit managed to make a mere 56 runs at a forgettable average of 11.20. Rohit seemed way past his prime, was late on the ball, and was basically a walking wicket inside the powerplay. Fascinatingly, that all changed in his next five innings, a span where he mustered 237 runs at 59.25 and 160.13.
An unhinged Rohit Sharma could be the real ‘Hitman’
But till then, it seemed like the Indian selectors had made up their minds. In total, Rohit has so far made 300 runs at an okayish average of 30.00 and at an SR of 152.28. These aren’t huge numbers, especially from a batter who you would want to be in the best shape for a high-octane ensuing Test series. In addition to this, he was playing just as a batter, coming in only as an impact sub.
Now, with a Test dilemma out of his mind, Rohit would be more ruthless. He basically now has nothing to prove to anyone – a feeling that can be quite threatening to the opposition. An unhinged ‘Hitman’ should be a great sign for the Mumbai Indians (MI), who would need their talisman to shine again. Why? Well, Rohit’s success as a batter is apparently directly proportional to MI’s. In wins, Rohit has been averaging a great 44.66 so far in IPL 2025. On the contrary, he scores just eight runs per innings when Mumbai loses.
Mumbai Indians are in a bit of trouble, and their fate hangs in the balance. Two wins from two matches are the need of the hour to seal their spot in the IPL 2025 playoffs. And Rohit is the key to unlocking this door. The Test aspirations are beyond Rohit now, meaning the sole focus would be on the IPL and how he can contribute in the remaining matches.
Rohit Sharma’s performances at IPL 2025 so far
3rd T20 vs CSK (Mar 23) – 0 (4) 9th T20 vs GT (Mar 29) – 8 (4) 12th T20 vs KKR (Mar 31) – 13 (12) 20th T20 vs RCB (Apr 7) – 17 (9) 29th T20 vs DC (Apr 13) – 18 (12) 33rd T20 vs SRH (Apr 17) – 26 (16) 38th T20 vs CSK (Apr 20) – 76 (45) 41st T20 vs SRH (Apr 23) – 70 (46) 45th T20 vs LSG (Apr 27) – 12 (5) 50th T20 vs RR (May 1) – 53 (36) 56th T20 vs GT (May 6) – 7 (8)Why is Rohit Sharma’s retiring from Test cricket a good news for Mumbai Indians? Inside Sport India.
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