Mark Boucher, the former coach of Mumbai Indians, has shown immense confidence in Rohit Sharma’s ability to come back strong in IPL 2025, despite the opener's slow start to the season. While Rohit hasn’t been able to score big runs yet, his recent performances, including a solid cameo against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), suggest that he’s finding his groove. In that match, Rohit hit three massive sixes, showing signs of his classic attacking style, but unfortunately, he was dismissed after playing a loose shot to a delivery from Pat Cummins, which he hit straight to Travis Head. Despite his early departure, Rohit’s aggressive approach was pivotal in MI's victory, and Boucher believes that it’s only a matter of time before the Mumbai captain delivers a match-winning performance.
Speaking to JioHotstar, Boucher was full of praise for Rohit’s attitude in the SRH match. He emphasized that Rohit took it upon himself to attack the bowlers and create opportunities for his team. "We saw some good old-fashioned Rohit Sharma sixes – big ones too. I liked his attitude. He put the bowlers under pressure, created scoring opportunities. He was just past the 30-mark — a big score is coming very soon. He’s looking in that zone again," Boucher said. According to the former coach, once Rohit crosses the 30-run mark, he is expected to convert that into a massive score, something that the team and fans have been eagerly waiting for.
Rohit Sharma’s IPL 2025 campaign, however, has not been without its challenges. In six matches so far, he has scored just 82 runs, with his highest being 26. Despite struggling with consistency, his strike rate of 143.85 indicates that his batting is far from being out of touch. His ability to hit boundaries, especially sixes, is a clear sign that his confidence is growing with each game, and he is only a few big hits away from getting back to his best.
Michael Clarke, the former Australian cricketer, also weighed in on Rohit’s performance after the SRH match, reinforcing Boucher’s belief that a big score is on the horizon for the MI opener. Clarke pointed out that while Rohit’s aggressive approach might not always be the ideal way to get into an innings, it’s what benefits the team the most. “But seeing that tells me he knows he's hitting the ball well, he's not far away. He's just got, he unfortunately, if he could just go steady and work his way into the innings, that would be best for Rohit Sharma, but that's not best for the team. So he has to play like this because it's best for the team and the team always comes first,” Clarke remarked.
Rohit’s unrelenting attack mode is something that has always been a hallmark of his game. His ability to turn the match on its head with just a few big shots is a crucial aspect of his leadership and the Mumbai Indians' style of play. Though his recent performances haven’t been enough to propel his side to consistent wins, his ability to quickly find form is something that no team can afford to take lightly.
Mumbai Indians’ next match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Sunday, April 20, will be a big opportunity for Rohit to showcase his true potential and help the team rise up the ranks in the IPL standings. With MI currently in the middle of the pack and aiming for a playoff spot, Rohit's performance will be pivotal in setting the tone for the rest of the season. Given his experience and pedigree in IPL cricket, it’s likely that Rohit will play a crucial role in the upcoming fixtures.
As the IPL season progresses, Rohit Sharma’s key strength lies in his ability to turn the momentum in an instant, and with the backing of his coach Boucher and former cricketers like Clarke, there is a growing belief that a big score is just around the corner. The MI camp will be hopeful that their captain finds his rhythm soon, and when that happens, it could very well be the spark that ignites Mumbai’s journey toward another successful IPL campaign.
