Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag has issued a caution to Mumbai Indians' Rohit Sharma regarding his declining performance in the ongoing IPL 2025 season. So far, Sharma has accumulated only 56 runs across five innings, averaging a mere 11.20, and has yet to surpass 20 runs in any single innings this tournament. Since 2023, his IPL average stands at just 24.39, marking the second lowest among openers with a minimum of 25 innings.

In an interview with Cricbuzz following the toss for the match between Mumbai and Sunrisers Hyderabad at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, Sehwag expressed his frustration over Rohit’s failure to achieve a 400-run season in the IPL, despite his evident talent. He attributed this decline to Rohit Sharma’s aggressive strategy against new-ball bowlers during the powerplay in white-ball cricket. Sehwag emphasized that Rohit’s poor batting performance is detrimental to his legacy.

“Examining Rohit’s IPL statistics over the past decade, he has only surpassed 400 runs on one occasion. He does not seem to be the type of player who aims for 500 or 700 runs. If he were to set that goal, he could achieve it. When he took on the role of Indian captain, he expressed a desire to capitalize on the powerplay and seize opportunities, opting to shoulder the responsibility alone. However, he must recognize that when he underperforms, it ultimately impacts his legacy. It may be time for him to consider retirement, and before doing so, he should aim to leave fans with memorable moments rather than prompting them to question why he remains in the team,” he remarked.

‘Someone should tell Rohit Sharma that...’

It is essential for Rohit Sharma to receive guidance regarding his playing style. In a direct message to him, Sehwag encouraged the 37-year-old to temper his aggressive tactics and allow himself the opportunity to demonstrate his capabilities in the IPL. He expressed the need for someone within the Mumbai Indians' dressing room to sit down with Rohit and convey this message, especially in light of the increasing calls for his removal from the playing XI.

"Take an additional 10 balls if necessary, but at least give yourself a chance to play. He has frequently been dismissed while attempting the pull shot against deliveries that are back of a length. Therefore, he should commit to not playing the pull shot in one innings. But who will communicate this to him? There needs to be someone advising him to play conventional cricket. When I was part of the team, players like Sachin, Dravid, or Ganguly would remind me to stick to basic cricketing principles," he remarked.

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