Rohit Sharma’s impact on Mumbai Indians' thrilling IPL 2025 victory over Delhi Capitals on April 13 went far beyond his limited role with the bat. Despite being substituted out of the match at the end of the sixth over of Delhi’s chase, Rohit’s presence and influence from the dugout played a crucial part in the turnaround that saw Mumbai defend their imposing total of 205 runs.
Throughout the match, Rohit, along with head coach Mahela Jayawardene and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, was actively involved in guiding captain Hardik Pandya, helping him make key tactical decisions. The game had initially appeared to be slipping away from Mumbai, especially with Karun Nair playing a blistering knock on his IPL return after a long gap. Nair, coming off a strong domestic season, showed his class by targeting the Mumbai bowlers, including Jasprit Bumrah, who was taken to task by the Karnataka batter for 29 runs off his first two overs. The Delhi chase looked to be on track, as Nair's destructive batting had them cruising toward the target.
However, the momentum swung in Mumbai's favor when Mitchell Santner bowled a peach of a delivery to dismiss Nair for 89 in the 12th over. This breakthrough was crucial, but Delhi remained in the game, standing at 145 for 4 by the end of the 13th over, with KL Rahul and Tristan Stubbs at the crease. The turning point came when Mumbai Indians opted to change the dewy ball. This move was backed by Rohit, Mhambrey, and Jayawardene, who were seen discussing strategy from the sidelines before passing a crucial directive to Hardik on the field: "Use a spinner."
In a bold move, Hardik responded by bringing Karn Sharma back into the attack, and the decision immediately paid off. Karn removed the dangerous Tristan Stubbs, who had been looking threatening. As the game progressed, Rohit was seen once again playing an active role, urging Hardik to complete Karn’s full quota of overs despite having a limited number of overs left to bowl from Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik himself. Rohit’s insistence on this tactic paid dividends when Karn got the important wicket of KL Rahul for 15. This dismissal was a significant blow to Delhi, as Rahul had been a key contributor in Delhi's previous victories in Chennai and Bengaluru.
As Karn Sharma delivered the goods, the reactions from the dugout, particularly from Rohit, were telling. His passion and leadership were evident as he celebrated the wicket of Rahul, clearly buoyed by the shift in momentum. During the next strategic time-out, Rohit and Jayawardene were seen walking up to Hardik, offering further advice on how to finish the game strong. The tactical changes and timely decisions helped Mumbai Indians stem the flow of runs and set the stage for a dramatic collapse by Delhi.
In the final overs, Delhi's chase fell apart, with panic setting in as they lost three wickets to run-outs in the penultimate over. Mumbai eventually bowled Delhi out for 193 in 19 overs, sealing a vital 12-run victory. Rohit's leadership and influence from the sidelines had been a decisive factor in the win, showing that his cricketing mind continues to operate at the highest level, even when not on the field.
Although Rohit’s batting performance was modest, scoring just 18 runs, his contribution as part of the leadership group proved invaluable. His tactical suggestions, especially regarding the bowling changes and the handling of the wet ball, played a key role in the win. Mumbai’s second victory in six matches lifted them out of the bottom two on the points table, and the match served as a reminder of the importance of strong leadership and strategy, even when not directly involved in the action on the field.
The win was also a boost to Mumbai’s morale, with the team showing resilience in a pressure-filled encounter. As the season progresses, this match may be remembered as one where Rohit Sharma’s leadership and cricketing intelligence from the dugout proved to be the difference, proving that his value extends far beyond just being a player on the field.
