Jonty Rhodes, the fielding coach for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), has offered his perspective on the swirling rumors surrounding Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s potential move to the franchise for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. With the mega auction for IPL 2025 looming, speculation has been rife about Rohit’s future, particularly his possible departure from Mumbai Indians, the team he has been associated with for a significant period. Having worked closely with Rohit during his time at Mumbai Indians, a team that has clinched the IPL title five times, Rhodes, a former South African cricketer himself, expressed his admiration for the experienced opener’s skill and contributions to the team.
“I mean, for a long time at Mumbai Indians, I felt I had the best job in the world. I got to watch Rohit Shama practice and play cricket. He is so elegant,” Rhodes told ANI. While Rhodes acknowledged Rohit’s elegance on the field, he doesn’t believe his presence is a necessity for LSG’s pursuit of success. “I mean, there’s the balance of teams, who’s in the side. I love watching Rohit Sharma bat, but I’m not saying he must come in and replace, and then suddenly we change our setup. So whatever, as I said, whatever happens, who is ever there? I’ll be doing my best to support,” he added.
Adding to the uncertainty surrounding Rohit’s future, franchise captain KL Rahul’s situation remains unclear. Rumors suggest that Rahul might not play for LSG again, following what appeared to be a reprimand from franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka after their defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad. When questioned about Rahul’s future, Rhodes expressed relief that he wouldn’t be responsible for making decisions regarding player retention. “Well, luckily, hypothetically, or in real life, that’s as a fielding coach. I don’t have to worry about that just now,” he added.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest fielders in cricket history, Rhodes remains actively involved in the sport long after retiring from his playing career. Beyond coaching, Rhodes continues to explore various roles in cricket, including being named the brand ambassador for the inaugural season of the Pro Cricket League (PCL). As he embarks on this new adventure, Rhodes remains committed to personal growth, striving to continuously improve as a human being. “I think what a learning curve is seeing if I can sit off the field. As a coach, you don’t get involved during the game, but it leads to a part of the buildup, part of the preparation. So I will have to see if I have got the patience to be able to sit and watch the whole thing to still be able to do a little bit of coaching, but yeah, a very new role, and it’s a part of evolving as an individual. As a cricket player, you always evolve. You have to work on your technique and your skills, so yes, I’m trying to improve my skills as a human being,” he stated.
