In yet another setback for the Mumbai Indians (MI), the team faced a disappointing defeat against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the ongoing IPL 2024 season. Despite a strong start, MI failed to chase down KKR’s target of 158 runs, finishing at 139/8 in a rain-curtailed 16-over match. The match highlighted the struggles of key players, including Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, who failed to make a significant impact.
Rohit Sharma, in particular, endured a tough outing, scoring just 19 runs off 24 balls before being dismissed by Varun Chakravarthy in the eighth over. Suryakumar Yadav also struggled, managing only 11 runs off 14 balls. Their inability to build partnerships and score quickly put MI in a difficult position, ultimately leading to their defeat.
Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag expressed his disappointment with Rohit and Suryakumar’s approach, criticizing their shot selection and lack of respect for the bowlers. Sehwag emphasized the importance of playing out good deliveries and maintaining focus, regardless of the situation.
Virender Sehwag said
“Whoever bowls well, just play him out. If two wickets hadn’t fallen, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav could’ve finished the match an over before. If they played out the spinners and didn’t lose wickets, they would’ve won the game,” Sehwag commented.
Sehwag highlighted the need for players to set aside their egos and focus on playing smart cricket. He emphasized that even established players like Rohit and Suryakumar need to respect the delivery and not give away their wickets easily.
“You can’t have an ego when you come out to bat. You play them out or punish the loose deliveries. Naman Dhir came right at the end and smashed two sixes and a four; if Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav were set at that time, they would’ve hit 5 balls for boundaries.”
“You could be Rohit Sharma or Suryakumar Yadav, but at least respect the delivery if you can’t respect the bowler. The ball on which Rohit Sharma got out wasn’t a weak ball. No doubt Rohit and Suryakumar are great players, but that doesn’t mean you should hit the good deliveries, too,” Sehwag said further.
Rohit Sharma’s form has been a concern for MI in recent matches. Since his century against the Chennai Super Kings last month, Rohit has struggled to make an impact, failing to reach double figures in four out of seven innings. His highest score since the century has been 36 against the Punjab Kings.
Despite his recent struggles, Rohit will lead the Indian team in the upcoming T20 World Cup and will be looking to rediscover his form in the final match of the IPL 2024 season against the Lucknow Super Giants on May 17. MI, who were the first team to be eliminated from playoff contention this season, will be hoping to end their campaign on a positive note.
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