Rohit Sharma Is A Question Mark- Sanjay Manjrekar

Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar commented on all-rounder Hardik Pandya being appointed as the Mumbai Indians (MI) captain. Sanjay Manjrekar expressed concerns about Rohit Sharma’s batting performances before the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.

Hardik Pandya returned to his former team after two years in a trade last month. The all-rounder was released by the franchise ahead of the mega auction for IPL 2022. He was named captain of the Mumbai Indians for IPL 2024, succeeding Rohit Sharma in the role.

The 30-year-old led the Gujarat Titans (GT) to their first title in their maiden season in 2022. He captained the Ahmedabad-based franchise to the final in the 2023 season but suffered a loss during the thrilling last-ball encounter against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

Rohit Sharma Informed Of Captaincy Change During World Cup 2023

Rohit Sharma will remain part of the five-time IPL champions despite being removed from leadership duties. Rohit’s removal from the captaincy sparked discussions in the cricketing community. Notably, he led the franchise to five titles in the history of the IPL.

As per the Indian Express report, the Mumbai franchise informed the 36-year-old about the captaincy change during the 2023 World Cup. The Indian skipper accepted the decision made by the franchise and left the matter in the hands of the franchise management.

Rohit Sharma Has Shown Promise – Sanjay Manjrekar

Sanjay Manjrekar emphasized the need for Suryakumar Yadav to deliver consistently in the upcoming season. Majrekar also raised questions about Rohit Sharma’s T20 form, highlighting the challenges in transitioning to the faster-paced T20 format.

“Ishan Kishan, from couple of seasons before MI paid the big bucks… he is in the same kind of form. Tim David is still trying to fill the shoes of Kieron Pollard. On form, one player that you can maybe depend on, the player who you can expect to come good, is Suryakumar Yadav,” said Sanjay Manjrekar on Hotstar during a commentary stint during India’s 2nd ODI against South Africa.

“Rohit Sharma, for me, as a batter, is a question mark in T20 cricket. has shown promise, the way he played in the fifty-over World Cups. But that’s a completely different format when you know you have fifty overs. They bat in that fashion. Bowlers just bowl differently in 50 overs as well,” he said further.

Rohit hasn’t performed up to expectations, especially in recent IPL seasons. The right-handed batter last surpassed the 400-run mark in the IPL 2019, scoring a total of 405 runs in 15 games. He recorded a total of 332, 381, 268, and 332 runs in the last four seasons.

Rohit Sharma Last Played For India In T20Is In 2022

Rohit Sharma has been absent from the T20I squad since India’s loss to England in the T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final. Hardik Pandya has taken on the leadership role for the Indian team in T20Is. Notably, India will only play one T20I series before the World Cup.

The veteran opener showcased exceptional batting skills in the 2023 World Cup, contributing significantly to India’s campaign. He scored 597 runs at an average of 54.27 and a strike rate of 125.95. Despite his remarkable performances, the team couldn’t secure the title.

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