Michael Vaughan does not mince words and talks straight from the heart. With former Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Rohit Sharma struggling for form, and having registered scores of 0, 8, & 13 in the three games so far for MI, Vaughan feels if another player was there in place of the MI opening batter, he would have been dropped from team for such pathetic numbers. Not only this ongoing IPL season, but Rohit has failed to live up to the expectations in the past two seasons, with middling returns at the top of the order.
In a chat with Cricbuzz, the former England captain highlighted how the MI opener would be judged purely as a batter since he is not leading the franchise anymore. Notably, MI used Rohit as an impact substitute, with the franchise deciding not use his vast amount of experience in the field in most of the matches.
ADVERTISEMENT
Loading...
"I always scratch my head with Rohit Sharma in Mumbai. I always think, if he's good enough to be the Indian captain, how is he not captain in Mumbai? I can always say that because I just don't get it. He's a wonderful captain for India. He's done a great job," said Vaughan.
Michael Vaughan wants MI management to speak with Rohit Sharma
In the last two of the three IPL innings in 2025, Rohit Sharma has registered single-digit scores and has failed to get MI off to rollicking starts as he is used to doing. Vaughan feels had the MI opener remained the captain, then such low returns would have been much different, as the management would have valued him in the leadership capacity, too.
"You look at his numbers, you've got to remember, we're judging Rohit just as a batter now because he's not the captain. Now, I think you can get away with average numbers, and they're average numbers. If your name's not Rohit Sharma, you're probably losing your place in the side at some stage with those numbers. They're not good enough for a player like Rohit Sharma," Vaughan asserted
"But if he's the captain as well, and he's adding his knowledge of being a leader, the culture creator that he is, tactician that he is, and I see it regularly with India, and I've seen it with Mumbai in the past, I cannot cope with those numbers. But when you're just the batter now, that's how we have to judge Rohit Sharma because he isn't the captain. He needs runs," he added.
The former England captain stated that a one-on-one talk needs to happen between Rohit and MI management about his current form. Vaughan said that franchise needs to find a way to get the best out of the former MI skipper.
ADVERTISEMENT
Loading...
Also Read: IPL 2025: From Mumbai Indians Talent Factory Meet Ashwani Kumar
"I'm not saying that they'll get rid of him. I'm not going to drop him. Come on, get us off to a start. Get your flow back, get your rhythm back, get your mojo back. Because for Mumbai to go and put right what they've not done right in the first two games, it does require that senior core to produce," said Vaughan.
After two losses, MI finally registered a thumping eight-wicket victory against defending champions KKR at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Ryan Rickelton, & Ashwani Kumar played starring roles with bat and ball respectively.
