The Mumbai Indians, who have clinched the IPL championship five times, have experienced a disappointing beginning to the 2025 IPL season, particularly with their batting lineup failing to meet expectations. Captain Hardik Pandya has emphasized the need for the batting unit to perform, leading to increased scrutiny of Rohit Sharma's subdued form at the top of the order in recent IPL seasons.

In the match against the Gujarat Titans, Rohit faced another setback, dismissed by Mohammed Siraj in the first over despite hitting a couple of boundaries. This follows his four-ball duck in the season opener against CSK.

As concerns grow regarding Rohit Sharma's performance, former England captain Michael Vaughan suggested that the issue may stem from a lack of motivation and confidence for the former MI leader.

"He just needs to act as if he is wearing the Indian blues instead of the Mumbai blues," Vaughan quipped during Cricbuzz’s post-match analysis. "He is an exceptional player, and for Mumbai to succeed this year, he must start scoring runs."

Vaughan highlighted that Rohit’s recent approach of attacking from the first ball and aiming for impactful innings needs to be more consistent.

"He must help his team get off to strong starts and regain his confidence and rhythm," Vaughan elaborated. "Without Rohit Sharma performing at his best, I doubt Mumbai will qualify for the playoffs. He is one of the few players capable of winning a match single-handedly."

Manjrekar serves warning: ‘Things are slipping away for him…’

"At times, when I observe Rohit, particularly during the Australia Test series, he seems to exhibit an attitude of indifference while on the field. I doubt that this is his true nature,” Vaughan commented regarding the 37-year-old, who has retired from T20Is for India. “He must discover that inner drive. If he manages to do so, he can become quite formidable.”

Sanjay Manjrekar, speaking for Star Sports after the match, also highlighted the necessity for Rohit to attend training and approach these matches with a strong desire to achieve his objectives. He noted that natural talent often diminishes with age, necessitating greater effort from the six-time IPL champion to maintain his performance level.

“Rohit Sharma is evidently experiencing a transitional phase. He is not the same player he was three to four years ago,” Manjrekar elaborated. “He has reached a point in his career where he must motivate himself each day—train diligently and perform at his peak—because he is losing his edge. He continues to depend on his inherent talent and instincts.”

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