Rohit Sharma, who played a pivotal role in securing India's second consecutive ICC title by scoring a match-winning 76 against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final last month, is currently facing challenges in finding his form in the IPL once again. His disappointing start to the season, with only 20 runs off 21 balls across three innings, has led some fans to call for his retirement, while analysts like Michael Vaughan have questioned his position in the Mumbai Indians' lineup. In response to this criticism, MI batting coach Kieron Pollard addressed the situation ahead of the team's match against Lucknow Super Giants on Friday at the Ekana Stadium.

So far in the current IPL season, Rohit has recorded scores of 13, 8, and 0. After his dismissal by Mohammed Siraj in the third match, Vaughan remarked that the 37-year-old's IPL statistics were "average" and suggested that he remained in the team primarily due to his past achievements. "If your name isn't Rohit Sharma, you would likely lose your spot in the team with those numbers," he stated on Cricbuzz. Other experts, including Manoj Tiwary and Virender Sehwag, echoed similar sentiments. However, Pollard remained confident in Rohit's abilities, asserting that he has "earned the right" to play without pressure.

"I have played alongside Rohit since our Under-19 days, and he has established his legacy in the record books through various situations and formats," Pollard remarked. "He is a legend of the game, both as a player and as an individual.

"There are moments when players experience a few low scores... he has the right to enjoy his cricket without undue pressure in certain circumstances. Therefore, we should not judge him based on a few poor performances. In cricket, we often face more failures than successes, and I am confident that we will be celebrating his achievements when he delivers a significant score, after which we will move on to the next topic of discussion."

Pollard acknowledged that the Mumbai Indians are unconcerned about the type of pitch they will encounter in Lucknow. Although they faced challenges on slower pitches in Chennai and Gujarat, they returned home for their third match and successfully dismissed Kolkata for a mere 116 runs, ultimately achieving an eight-wicket victory.

"For me and for us, I believe it's primarily about adaptability to whatever conditions we face on a given day," Pollard stated on Thursday. "As both a former player and part of the management, it is essential to prepare for any situation and focus on the aspects we can control. The characteristics of the pitches are beyond our control as a management team and as players. Therefore, how we respond to the conditions presented to us is what defines us as world-class athletes and legends, demonstrating our ability to adapt to any challenge."

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