Rohit Sharma's role as an 'Impact Substitute' for the Mumbai Indians (MI) since the start of the IPL 2025 has caused quite a stir. However, Rohit clarified the situation by explaining the reasons for the decision.
Rohit, now 38, is being utilized gingerly by the franchise, with management opting to conserve his energies and focus solely on his batting, bringing him in only when MI is batting.
With Hardik Pandya at the helm and stalwarts like Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah at his disposal, the Mumbai Indians have found a way to keep the well-oiled engine humming, racking up a five-game winning streak to counterbalance their poor start to the season.
When asked about his decision to delegate to the Impact Sub, Rohit spoke frankly about the practical side of the move, emphasizing how it helps him to be as 'impactful' with the bat as possible.
“You talked about making an impact, didn’t you? Well, I am literally the Impact Sub now, so that’s what my job entails. Look, like I said before, I am not worried about scoring runs. I just want to win matches. That’s where all my energy goes. I only think about how and what I can contribute to my team in the moment of need,” Rohit Sharma told journalist Vimal Kumar.
Rohit further elaborated on what he described as MI's primary idea or belief: emphasizing timely and efficient performance over individual honors.
“Now, if you look at our history here at MI, you will find out that we never had any Orange Cap holders during the seasons we won the IPL. So, there is a certain ideology behind that," Rohit stated.
Another adjustment Rohit faced was a change in captaincy, as the star batter turned up the reins to Hardik Pandya last year, a move that drew criticism and resentment.
Rohit, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of change and his unwavering conviction in the team's ability to rediscover itself and return to the top.
“There’s been no real change or hiccup. I just don’t need to be the captain anymore, that’s all. I just focus on my role as a batter. I always valued my role as a batter first, even when I was captain. And now, since that’s my only role, I focus all my energy on the same and do what I can to help my team," Rohit stated about his role in the team currently.
See, it’s no secret that we haven’t had the best of seasons in the IPL over the past 2-3 years. So, we had a lot of internal talks to figure out what we could improve on, what could be changed, and we followed through on them. I believe that we are headed in the right direction and that we will continue to achieve more and more success," Rohit claimed.
MI will next face the Rajasthan Royals on May 1 in Jaipur. MI is currently placed 3rd on the IPL 2025 points table with 6 wins from 10 games and 12 points.
(News18 inputs)
