Rohit Sharma’s aggressive intent at the top of the order has often divided opinions, with critics quick to point out his tendency to throw away starts. However, Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene has offered his full support to the former captain, stating that the team has consciously backed Rohit to continue playing his natural, high-impact game, regardless of the occasional failure.
On Sunday night in Mumbai, Rohit answered his critics in style with a commanding 76 off just 45 balls against arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings, a knock that not only anchored MI’s chase but also reasserted his value as a game-changer. Speaking after the match, Jayawardene lauded Rohit’s approach, emphasising that such innings have the power to uplift the entire dressing room.
“Once he gets going like that, he changes the momentum of the match. That energy filters down to the rest of the team. We’ve always backed his intent—even when the runs weren’t coming—because he was still looking to play the brand of cricket that suits both him and the team,” Mahela Jayawardene said at the post-match press conference.
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While Rohit’s high-risk, high-reward style carries obvious perils, Jayawardene believes it is balanced by his situational awareness. “He’s been batting with this tempo for a while now. But the key is in understanding the game—like when Ashwin came on to bowl, he took his time. He didn’t immediately go after the long boundary. That’s smart cricket from an experienced player,” Jayawardene explained.
The coaching staff, including Jayawardene and Kieron Pollard, have worked closely with Rohit behind the scenes, focusing on creating specific match-up scenarios during training to keep him sharp and confident.
“We didn’t try to over-coach him. We gave him space, had a few positive chats, built some matchups in the nets, and let him be. That’s what you do with a player of his experience,” Mahela Jayawardene revealed.
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According to him, Rohit was always in the right mindset, and there was never any panic in the MI camp despite his string of low scores. “It was just about getting through the initial phase. He’s gotten out to a couple of good balls, mistimed a few shots—happens to the best. The key was to stay patient and let him find his rhythm,” Jayawardene concluded.
With MI climbing the table and Rohit rediscovering form, the five-time champions will be hoping their senior-most batter continues to lead from the front in the crucial second half of the season.
