April 1, 2025: Mumbai – The IPL 2025 season has been a turbulent ride for some of cricket's biggest names, with Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni both facing intense scrutiny as their teams struggle to find form. Rohit Sharma's woes continued on Monday as he scored just 13 runs against the Kolkata Knight Riders, bringing his total to a mere 21 runs across three matches. Fans and critics alike are now questioning his position in the Mumbai Indians' batting lineup, drawing unsettling comparisons to MS Dhoni's late-career struggles.
In the match against KKR, the former Mumbai Indians captain managed to hit a six during his brief innings before being dismissed by Andre Russell. This performance has sparked a wave of reactions on social media, with many fans suggesting that Rohit should consider stepping back from the top order. One fan tweeted, "Rohit should take a page from Dhoni’s book—bat lower, let the youngsters shine," while another remarked, "Rohit Sharma out here doing a Dhoni impersonation, but without the finishing magic." The parallels drawn between the two iconic players highlight the pressure both are under in this IPL season.
Despite Rohit's struggles, the Mumbai Indians managed to secure their first win of the season, thanks largely to a stunning debut from Ashwani Kumar, who took 4 wickets for just 24 runs, helping to dismantle KKR's batting lineup for a mere 116 runs. Deepak Chahar contributed with 2 wickets for 19 runs, while Trent Boult and Hardik Pandya chipped in with 1 wicket each. In reply, Ryan Rickelton led the charge with an impressive unbeaten 62 off 41 balls, while Suryakumar Yadav sealed the victory with a quick-fire 27 off just 9 balls, finishing the match with a powerful six.
As the Mumbai Indians look to build on this momentum, all eyes will undoubtedly be on Rohit Sharma in their next match. Will he bounce back from this slump, or is a change in role on the horizon?
Meanwhile, the conversation surrounding MS Dhoni continues to heat up as fans express their concerns over his batting position in the Chennai Super Kings lineup. The former captain has been batting down the order for the past three seasons, and while he has faced backlash for this decision, the current IPL season has amplified these discussions. After a strong start with a win over Mumbai, CSK has faltered in their subsequent matches, leaving them in seventh place on the points table with only one win from three games.
Fans are now calling for Dhoni to promote himself in the batting order, with one fan even claiming that he will bat at No. 3 in the upcoming match against Delhi on April 5 at Chepauk. The question lingering in the minds of many is whether or not bringing a half-fit Dhoni back for the season was the right choice for the franchise. As Dhoni approaches the twilight of his career, there are increasing calls for him to consider stepping away from the game if his body cannot keep up with the demands.
Veteran Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara recently echoed these sentiments, suggesting that Dhoni should take a more proactive approach in the batting lineup. "They left it a little longer. They could have accelerated when Jadeja and MS were batting; they could have gone hard a little earlier. But there are two sides to it. If one of them had gotten out, then things would have been different," Pujara noted, highlighting the delicate balance between aggression and caution in cricket.
As the IPL 2025 season progresses, both Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni find themselves at critical junctures in their careers. With fans and analysts alike keeping a close watch, the pressure mounts for these legendary players to perform and guide their teams back to winning ways. The next few matches will be crucial not just for their respective franchises, but also for their legacies in the game.
