Rohit Sharma impact subbed in last 2 matches for MI, as Hardik Pandya captained the side.
Former India cricketers Ambati Rayudu and Sanjay Bangar got into an intense debate over Rohit Sharma being used as an impact sub by the Mumbai Indians (MI) in this IPL 2025. Bangar felt that MI captain Hardik Pandya needs the expertise of Rohit Sharma, while Rayudu felt that Hardik should be left alone.
Despite his poor IPL performance, Rohit has been used as an impact substitute twice this season, the first time against the Kolkata Knight Riders at home last week.
Bangar believed there was a better way to use the 37-year-old in the MI system, emphasizing the importance of his on-field experience in guiding Hardik through difficult periods of a game. However, Rayudu disagreed, believing that a captain should be left alone and free to make his own decisions.
This triggered a heated conversation between the two, with Bangar making a subtle dig at Rayudu, claiming that he would not comprehend the situation because he had never led an IPL club.
Here is the conversation:
Bangar: “I want to ask you one question, Rayudu. I think Rohit's absence on the field is hurting from a leadership point of view. He could probably give Hardik the right input as well.”
Rayudu: “I don't think Hardik needs input. A captain needs to be left alone. It is his team and his input, and you cannot have 10 people in his ears like last year. Rohit is India's captain, and nobody wants to be in his ears when he is captaining. You should follow the same approach with Hardik here.”
Bangar: “I...”
Rayudu: “(interrupts) No captain has to be left alone, Sanjay bhai. Sorry.”
Bangar: “But you look, when you get an impact sub in, you are looking at specialists. And if I have to look at the other options, MI has Naman Dhir and Tilak, who don't bowl. So, in the T20 setup, having that kind of experience in the field is of immense value. For you, it was different because you never led an IPL team. But here is a guy who has led the team to multiple IPL titles.”
Rayudu: “But he is not the captain anymore. It is Hardik's team. Let's not get into that debate. Rohit is a great leader; we all acknowledge that, but it is Hardik's team, and he will do whatever he sees fit. Rohit's input can always come from a substitute fielder. He does not have to be on the field for that.”
Bangar: “The message does not always come from the former captain. It comes from the management.”
The anchor quickly reminded the two that India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav is still on the field to advise Hardik and that choices about the playing XI are typically made collectively, with the entire team management there.
He further contrasted the situation to that of RCB, stating that even though Rajat Patidar is the new captain, Virat Kohli, who fits the bill as a gun fielder, particularly at the boundary, will always be on the field, unlike Rohit.
But the heated debate continued:
Bangar: “He knows the MI setup better.”
Rayudu: “It is not about that. Kohli used to be left alone. Dhoni was not at his ears all the time. Same for Rohit. Then why should Hardik have 10 people at his ears?”
Bangar: “Who are these 10 people?”
Rayudu: “You are saying Rohit, Suryakumar, and then the coaches in the dugout.”
Here is the video: