Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma is having another underwhelming IPL season. On Saturday, he became the batsman with the most number of ducks in the IPL history – 16.
Considering his inconsistent rut this season, Rohit Sharma even demoted himself to number 3, and also give Cameron Green the best chance to utilize his hitting skills by promoting him as an opener. That move didn’t work out, neither for both the players, not for the team as both were dismissed in the first three overs. This was now Rohit’s 16th duck in the IPL.
In the IPL 2023 season so far, Rohit Sharma is amongst the worst-performing batters of his MI team. In 10 innings, he’s managed 184 runs at an average of only 18 and strike rate of 126. He’s hit only 1 half-century since the start of last IPL season. In 10 knocks this season, he’s gone past 30 only twice.
So what is troubling Rohit Sharma? Why is he having another lean season?
Here are 2 reasons we could think of:
Poor shot selection
Some of Rohit’s shot selection has been bizarre, and with his not being able to time the ball properly, he’s getting out cheaply. Let’s take his two latest dismissals, both ducks vs CSK and PBKS. Coming down the track in the first over to a swinging ball from Rishi Dhawan and thick edging it to thirdman, followed by a poor lap shot off Deepak Chahar and managing a top edge to point. And before that, he moved to the legside to Sandeep Sharma and got bowled from a distance.
Rohit is looking to attack from the start of his innings, but that is not his natural game
What has led to these uncharacteristic shots – and consequently his struggles – has been his temptation to go for big shots and aggressive runs right from the onset of his innings. This is something that is not in his natural game.
There’s a reason why Rohit has poor numbers whenever MI are chasing a target in excess of 200. Rohit’s game is not one for ultra-attacking intent – something which he’s tried to imbibe in his batting over the past couple of years. It hasn’t really worked out well for him – he’s only hit one fifty in the IPL in his last 24 innings and averages around 20 with strike rate less than 130.
