First two matches of IPL 2025 for Mumbai Indians, and they have lost them both. That is not any worry or surprise, since that has been the norm for the last four editions, but what can be concerning for the team going forward is — the batting form of the team in general, especially that of Rohit Sharma.
Mumbai India – A Failed Batting Unit in IPL 2025?
The veteran got out for 0 and 8 vs CSK and GT, respectively, and his sub par show is putting the rest of the team under pressure. Ryan Rickelton has managed has managed 13 and 6 in the two matches.. their best two batters have been Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav, to put it simply. Now, what should be done to arrest this slump in form?
Well, MI might not really be comfortable doing it, but the only way out for them is to ask Tilak Varma to open the innings with Rickelton and send Rohit Sharma at No. 4. Suryakumar Yadav should come in at No. 3. Why, one would ask, when Tilak has never opened and Rohit last played in the middle order in IPL 2018?
Make Tilak Varma Open, and Drop Rohit Sharma to No. 4
Simply because, the southpaw has been in great T20 form in the last one year, can get boundaries with ease, which wouldn’t let pressure build on the other batters. And Rohit, on the other hand, has been at his very best in the IPL, when he has batted in the middle order. Let’s just try to break this down further, backed by numbers.
In 2024, in T20Is, Tilak played 5 matches and averaged 102, while scoring 306 runs including two back-to-back tons vs South Africa. His strike-rate was mind-boggling 187 then. This year in T20Is, he has scored 133 runs at an average of 44. Slight down in numbers, but still mighty good. Further, in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, in 7 matches for Hyderabad, he had scored 327 runs at an average of 65 and a strike rate of 169. His top-score there was 151.
Statistics Show, Rohit Brilliant at No. 4
In his 40 innings, he has never opened in the IPL, but perhaps the time is correct now for him to get the promotion. On the other hand, coming to Rohit Sharma, he has been at his best, when batting in the middle-order in IPL. If we break down all his innings for MI, his best numbers are at No. 4 and No. 5 positions.
| Position | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike-rate |
| Opening | 104 | 2756 | 28.12 | 131.55 |
| No. 3 | 35 | 759 | 24.48 | 129.30 |
| No. 4 | 64 | 1785 | 33.06 | 129.63 |
| No. 5 | 7 | 166 | 41.50 | 146.90 |
Time Slipping for MI
While opening in 104 innings, he has scored 2756 runs at an average of 28 and a strike-rate of 131. That includes one hundred and 15 fifties. At No. 3 he has been bad in 35 innings, averages only 24, scored 759 runs at a strike-rate of 129. But at No. 4, in 64 innings he has 1785 runs at an average of 33, while the strike-rate remains the same. At No. 5 in 7 innings, he has scored 166 runs at an average of 41.
So, backed by numbers and given the form the MI batting unit is in, it becomes imperative for them to make the switch, starting KKR match on Monday, or else IPL 2025 could be lukewarm season for them again.
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