The Mumbai Indians (Mi) finally won their first victory for the Indian Premier League season (IPL) 2025, beating Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Monday. The Ashwani Kumar stimulator and the openingr Ryan Rickelton was the best interpreters in the franchise while MI won an 8 titles victory. In a satisfactory overall performance, fans of the Mumbai Indians were not delighted to see the former Sharma Sharma skipper who failed to leave his brand. Rohit left for a 13-ball 13, leaving the fans scratching his head again. The former captain of England Michael Vaughan feels that another player in place of Rohit would have been withdrawn from the team for similar figures.
In a conversation on SpitVaughan underlined how Rohit would be tried only as a striker now that he is not the captain of the Mumbai Indian franchise. The striker is even used as an impact substitute, the franchise deciding not to use his experience on the field in most matches.
“I always scratch my head with Rohit Sharma in Mumbai. I always think, if he is good enough to be the Indian captain, how is he not captain in Mumbai? I can still say that because I just don’t understand. He is a wonderful captain for India. He did an excellent job,” said Vaughan.
“You will have to look at what has happened in recent years with the white ball scene. Now, if he is considered the best person for captain of the national team, how can he not be the best person for captain of the franchise team?
Since the start of the 2025 IPL season, Rohit has recorded scores of 0, 8 and 13. Vaughan believes that Rohit had always been the team captain, things would have been very different, because the management would also have appreciated him in the capacity of leadership. But, as a dough, it’s just not good enough.
“You look at his figures, you have to remember, we consider Rohit just as a striker now, because he is not the captain. Now, I think you can get out of it with average figures, and these are average figures. If your name is not good enough for a player like Rohit Sharma,” Vaughan attended.
“But if he is also the captain, and he adds his knowledge of being a leader, the creator of culture that he is, tactician he is, and I see him regularly with India, and I have seen him with Mumbai in the past, I cannot face these figures. But when you are just the striker now, that’s how we have to judge Rohit Sharma because he is not the case.
Vaughan also said that a conversation must occur between Rohit and management on the current situation. The franchise must find a way to get the most out of their old skipper.
“I’m not saying they’re going to get rid of him. I’m not going to drop him. Come on, get us back. Return your flow, get your rhythm, get your mojo. Because Mumbai will do what they have not done in the first two games, it requires that this senior nucleus produces,” said Vaughan.
“And then around that, if your senior nucleus, Trent Boult, Suryakumar Yadav, and obviously Rohit, produce their consistency, young people can simply enjoy the game. You tell young players, look, just go out and take advantage of it. When you tell young people per minute, you are going to have a little magic for us.” He added.
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