Mumbai Indians (MI) have made a terrific turnaround in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, but the form of one of their mainstays has cast doubts ahead of the Eliminator.
Rohit Sharma's recent form has been a cause of concern for Mumbai, even though the Paltans made it to the playoffs despite losing four matches at the start of the season.
Follow The Sporting News India on WhatsApp
Despite the occasional strong starts, Sharma has consistently failed to convert them into big scores. This has been the case for the past few seasons, which displays MI's recent track record in the cash-rich league.
He played an unusually slow knock of 24 off 21 deliveries against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their previous match, where the Punjab-based franchise sealed their place in the top two with a win.
Meanwhile, a former Indian cricketer has speculated on the reason behind Sharma's dip in form.
READ MORE: Suryakumar Yadav breaks Tendulkar's MI record
Ex-India cricketer warns MI ahead of IPL 2025 playoffs
Former Indian pacer Atul Wassan has questioned Rohit Sharma's motivation ahead of the 2025 playoffs. The former pacer recently appeared on the Bails and Banter podcast on OTTPlay, where he expressed that Sharma might be a little disinterested after winning it all in his illustrious career.
Wassan said, "He seems to be a bit disinterested; the motivation, the fire in the belly, has satiated. He has won almost everything, from winning the T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy to retiring from Test cricket. Hence, to motivate yourself to play at this level of cricket every day is a very tough task."
Wassan further added: "A player needs to have some sort of aim in the future; it could be the longevity and the legacy. No player wants to compromise on the reputation he/she has built and leave fans with bad memories, and this is something which should motivate them."
MORE: MS Dhoni's 'done' comment leaves CSK fans guessing his IPL 2026 return
Sharma has scored 329 runs in the 13 matches he has played this season, registering just three half-centuries. Over the past five seasons, Sharma has managed to cross the 400-run mark only twice, suggesting his downfall, which has impacted Mumbai massively at times.
MI will be hoping for Sharma to shine again on the big stage when they take on either Royal Challengers Bengaluru or Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator of IPL 2025.