Mumbai Indians’ decision to remove Rohit Sharma from the captaincy role for the 2024 season was largely influenced by his declining batting performance in recent IPL seasons. While Sharma started the current season on a high note with an unbeaten 105 against Chennai Super Kings, his form has since deteriorated. In his last seven innings, he has only managed to score 88 runs at a strike rate of 104.8 and an average of 12.6. This poor run has drawn criticism from experts and fans alike, with concerns being raised about his readiness for the upcoming T20 World Cup. However, former cricketer Pragyan Ojha has expressed confidence in Sharma’s ability to regain his form.
On Saturday, in Mumbai’s match against Kolkata Knight Riders, Sharma struggled to find his rhythm, managing just 17 runs off the first 19 balls he faced. He was eventually dismissed for 19 off 24 deliveries as MI lost the match by 18 runs. Former India cricketer Virender Sehwag was among those who criticized Sharma’s approach in the match, suggesting that he should have played more aggressively. Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan also expressed concern about Sharma’s form ahead of the World Cup.
Despite the criticism, Ojha, who was Sharma’s former IPL teammate at Deccan Chargers, believes that the senior batter has the ability to bounce back strongly in the T20 World Cup. “The gait of a cheetah, the vision of a hawk, and the batting skills of Rohit & Virat are never doubted,” he tweeted.
Sharma will have one more opportunity to regain his form in IPL 2024 when Mumbai, who have already been eliminated from the race to the playoffs, take on Lucknow Super Giants at home on May 17.
