Virender Sehwag didn’t mince words as he expressed his disappointment with Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav’s batting performances during Mumbai Indians’ recent match against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens on Saturday, May 11. The rain-shortened encounter, reduced to 16 overs per side, witnessed Kolkata Knight Riders posting 157/7 after being put in to bat.
In response, Mumbai Indians began their chase with a brisk pace, led by Ishan Kishan’s fluent 40 off 22 deliveries. However, Rohit Sharma, struggling to find his rhythm, departed for a slow 19 off 24 balls. His attempt at a sweep shot against Varun Chakaravarthy resulted in a top-edge, easily caught at short fine leg.
Suryakumar Yadav, too, failed to make an impact and was dismissed by Andre Russell for a meager 11 off 14 balls. His mistimed pull off a slower delivery from Russell found the fielder at deep square leg. Both experienced batsmen departed with strike rates below 100.
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Former India opener Sehwag didn’t hold back in his criticism, particularly targeting Rohit’s dismissal. He emphasized the importance of humility and respecting quality deliveries in challenging conditions.
“Whoever bowls well, play them out. Had they not lost those two wickets, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav could’ve finished the match earlier. Even if they had faced Vaibhav Arora, Mitchell Starc, Andre Russell, and Harshit Rana, they could’ve won by playing out the spinners and avoiding wickets,” Virender Sehwag commented to Cricbuzz.
“You can’t let ego dictate your batting. Either play out the good balls or punish the loose ones. Naman Dhir came in later and hammered two sixes and a four; had Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav been set by then, they could’ve done the same. Regardless of being top players, one must respect good deliveries. Rohit’s dismissal wasn’t due to a poor delivery. Being a great player doesn’t excuse hitting good balls,” Virender Sehwag elaborated.
Despite Rohit Sharma’s promising start in IPL 2024, including a century against Chennai Super Kings earlier in the season, his recent performances have been disappointing. This is concerning for Indian fans as Sharma is set to lead the national team in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
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Mumbai Indians’ defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders marked their ninth loss in 13 matches, keeping them at the bottom of the points table. In contrast, the Knight Riders secured a playoff berth with this victory, leading the table with 18 points from 12 matches.
