Rohit Sharma is having a forgettable Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season with the bat. The Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper logged his 16th duck in his IPL career when he got out for a 3-ball duck against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Sharma demoted himself to the number 3 position in order to find some luck with the willow but the plan failed miserably. Not only did the MI openers fail to score runs, but neither did Rohit open his account.
Former Indian stalwart and present broadcaster Sunil Gavaskar wasn’t happy with the Indian team captain’s approach. He has lashed out at Rohit Sharma for his shot selection and said that he felt Rohit Sharma wasn’t in the game.
“It just doesn’t seem as if he is in the game. I may be completely wrong, but the shot he played wasn’t a captain’s shot. A captain repairs the innings knowing that the team is in trouble, plays a decent knock, and gets the team to a good total.
Two wickets gone for not too many in the power-play and you are not in form,” said Sunil Gavaskar to Star Sports, who is the first person to score 10,000 runs in the red-ball format.
“If you are in form, I still understand the scoop shot, but it’s a huge shot when you have got two ducks in the previous game. So, you want to play and get yourself off the mark, get some circulation in the legs, running quick ones and twos and then go for the big ones.
Maybe, he is preoccupied and maybe a little break would do him good. But it’s for him and the MI team management to take a call,” added Gavaskar.
Sunil Gavaskar suggested Sharma to take a break
As India are to lock horns with Australia in the coveted finals of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 starting from 7th June 2023, Gavaskar has suggested that Sharma should go on a hiatus.
“I would say that Rohit should maybe take a break for the time being, and keep himself fit for the World Test Championship Final. He can come back again for the last few matches, but right now, [he should] take a little bit of a breather himself,” said Sunil Gavaskar.
Rohit Sharma averages a paltry 18.40 in IPL 2023
The skipper of MI is enduring a lean patch in the ongoing lucrative IPL and has mustered only 184 runs in 10 games. He has a horrendous average of 18.40 and is struggling with form, timing, and consistency.
MI next takes on the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on 9th May 2023 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. The last time these two teams met in IPL 2023, RCB had won the game by 8 wickets. It was the first game for both teams.
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