NO IMPACT! Rohit Sharma uses the Impact Rule and flops as opener for Mumbai Indians

Sunday is indeed a new chapter in his career and the history of the IPL where a full-time captain chose to play the role of an impostor.

NO IMPACT! Rohit Sharma uses the Impact Rule and flops as opener for Mumbai Indians

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma made laughing stock of himself on Sunday. The Mumbai Indians captain rested himself as captain and did not take the field against Kolkata Knight Riders. Yet, when the time for Mumbai came to bat, Rohit stepped out as an “Impact Player.” Sample this, an opener as an “Impact Player,” he made no great impression as his 20 runs off 13 balls, studded with one four and two sixes was not what the team really needed. That Mumbai eventually won is not the story, really.

This new rule introduced in the 2023 edition of the IPL has come under a lot of clouds. That a regular captain decided to use the “Impact Player” rule has left fans wondering if this is what the fitness levels of a senior player are. Rohit has a history of taking frequent breaks even as Team India leader. In the name of workload management, Indian fast bowlers have come under the radar, ever since Jasprit Bumrah faced back issues. He underwent surgery and is now undergoing rehab at the NCA in Bengaluru.

In the absence of Rohit as captain, after KKR batted first, Suryakumar Yadav was the stand-in captain. But the jokes and memes were soon around Rohit Sharma. The “Impact Player” rule has been used by all teams. People were predicting in the 2024 IPL, maybe, Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni could still be around as Impact Player/captain. His relationship with CSK has continued through highs and lows since the inception of the IPL in 2008.

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It was Rohit Sharma who first made noise before the IPL on workload

NO IMPACT! Rohit Sharma uses the Impact Rule and flops as opener for Mumbai Indians
Rohit Sharma

There is no comparing the fitness levels of Dhoni, who at his peak never took breaks and played all three formats. In fact, it was Rohit who first made noise before the IPL on workload. Maybe, he was hinting at his own body unable to withstand the load. For its part, the BCCI did well to name Hardik Pandya as the T20 captain. Even in the ODIs, Rohit is the designated captain but is under pressure.

One would imagine that with a big franchise like Mumbai Indians, they would take their cricket seriously. The franchise has won the IPL title five times, though, in the last two seasons, they have not been in sublime form. Rohit’s form has been shaky, though, in the previous match, he did hit a half-ton. At a time when youngsters like Harry Brook of Sunrisers Hyderabad and Venkatesh Oyer of KKR have slammed centuries in the 2023 IPL, Rohit has not been impressive.

Sunday is indeed a new chapter in his career and the history of the IPL where a full-time captain chose to play the role of an impostor. It exposes his fitness, though, as per rules, Rohit using the “Impact Player” rule is legal. Is this what die-hard Mumbai Indians fans want? No way.

There are illustrious captains who have led sides in the IPL, be it from India or overseas. Just that Rohit has offered a glimpse into his own form, or the lack of it and fitness this year. It is well known Rohit has to lead Team India in the ICC Test Championship final against Australia in June in England. He is also India’s ODI captain for the ICC World Cup (ODI) later this year. Has the Indian captain opted for a safety-first approach? Is this the way a leader handles a position of command? Fans will answer it the best!

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