NEW DELHI: Rohit Sharma may not have made Mumbai Indians’ starting XI on Sunday against Chennai Super Kings, but the seasoned opener is still expected to play a crucial role as an Impact Substitute.
The decision appears to be a mix of strategy and necessity, with Rohit battling both a nagging knee injury and a worrying dip in form.
The 2025 IPL season has not been kind to the MI veteran.
With scores of 0, 8, 13, 17, 18, and 26 in his first six innings, questions were being raised about the 37-year-old’s place in the XI.
Rohit’s last match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he amassed his season’s best individual score so far (26), also held emotional value, as Rohit was felicitated by BCCI President Roger Binny for completing 18 seasons in the IPL — a milestone few can dream of, let alone achieve.
The memento acknowledged his legacy, even as his immediate future remained uncertain.
On Sunday, MI skipper Hardik Pandya opted to bowl first after winning the toss at Wankhede, a ground known to favour chasing teams, especially with dew in play.
With Rohit benched initially, MI’s top order will be under pressure to perform. Should the situation demand experience and acceleration, Rohit is likely to be slotted in during the chase.
With Mumbai Indians currently outside the top four, every match is now a must-win.
For them to mount a serious comeback, Rohit’s blade must start talking. Whether he does it tonight as an Impact Player remains to be seen, but fans will be hoping the Hitman still has a few fireworks left in him.
Mumbai Indians (Playing XI): Ryan Rickelton(w), Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashwani Kumar
Impact subs: Rohit Sharma, Corbin Bosch, Raj Bawa, Satyanarayana Raju, Robin Minz
Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Shaik Rasheed, Rachin Ravindra, Ayush Mhatre, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Vijay Shankar, Jamie Overton, MS Dhoni(w/c), Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana
Impact subs: Anshul Kamboj, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Sam Curran, Ravichandran Ashwin