Mumbai Indians (MI) were blown out of Chepauk by home team Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on May 6 (Saturday). The five-time champions suffered a confidence-shattering six-wicket loss against their bitter rivals. MI's batting line-up capitulated in unfamiliar territory, and as a result, the Men in Blue could only muster a score of 139/8 in 20 overs. Captain Rohit Sharma, who decided to bat at No.3, couldn't get out of his batting slump and registered yet another duck in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
After the 'Hitman' registered back-to-back ducks, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar lashed out at the MI skipper for not doing the job of a leader. The cricketer-turned-pundit once again underlined that Rohit should take a break from the ongoing edition of the cash-rich tournament.
"It just doesn't seem as if he is in the game. I may be completely wrong, but the shot he played wasn't a captain's shot. A captain repairs the innings knowing that the team is in trouble, plays a decent knock and gets the team to a good total. Two wickets gone for not too many in the power-play and you are not in form," Gavaskar was quoted as saying to Star Sports.
"If you are in form, I still understand the scoop shot, but it's a huge shot when you have got two ducks in the previous game. So, you want to play and get yourself off the mark, get some circulation in the legs, running quick ones and twos and then go for the big ones. Maybe, he is preoccupied and maybe a little break would do him good. But it's for him and the MI team management to take a call," he added.
Rohit's struggle with the bat in IPL has been well documented. This season, the stylish right-handed batter has scored 184 runs in 10 matches at a strike rate of 126.90 and is averaging 18.50. While Rohit usually likes to capitalise during field restrictions, his numbers in powerplay overs of IPL 2023 are below par.
Not only this season but Rohit's numbers with the bat in the last five-six seasons have been a genuine cause of concern for MI. Since 2017, Rohit has scored 400+ runs only once in the cash-rich tournament.
Meanwhile, Gavaskar had suggested earlier that the MI captain leave IPL 2023 in between and return fresh for the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
"Rohit Sharma should take a break and keep himself fresh for the World Test Championship. Come back again for the last few matches, but right now take a breather himself. He is looking slightly preoccupied, maybe he is thinking about the WTC. I think he needs a little bit of a break," Gavaskar had earlier said on Star Sports.
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