With the mega auction for 2025 getting closer, speculations are being made over the future of Rohit Sharma with Mumbai Indians. The council hasn’t announced official rules or dates of the auction yet, but rumors are that Mumbai may release Rohit or he might seek a change in order to be thrown into the auction pool.
Rift Between Rohit Sharma And Mumbai Indians?
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has given his take on these rumors, underlining Rohit’s rumored links with the Lucknow Super Giants. It is learned that all was not well between Rohit and Mumbai Indians since he was suddenly ousted from captaincy last December, when all-rounder Hardik Pandya was named captain. Although Rohit has not spoken publicly about the incident, there were rumors about his differences with Hardik, which might just have precipitated the rift within the team.
Aakash Chopra thinks on his YouTube channel that Rohit’s stay with Mumbai Indians-where he was leading the team for ten continuous years and winning five IPL titles-is finally getting over. He had also given the team the option of letting him go or dealing him to any other franchise before the auction.
Aakash Chopra’s Take on Rohit Sharma’s Potential Move
“Will he stay or will he go? It’s a big question. Personally, I feel he will not stay. Whoever is retained will be with the thinking that he will remain with you for three years, unless your name is MS Dhoni. MS Dhoni and Chennai Super Kings’ story is very different but Rohit Sharma at MI, I feel he might himself leave or MI might leave him,” he said.
“Anything can happen but I don’t think Rohit is going to be retained here. I don’t have any information but I feel Rohit will probably be released. He might go to someone in the trade window, that’s a possibility that he doesn’t go to the auction, but if that doesn’t happen, he might be seen in the auction. I feel his journey with the Mumbai Indians is over,” the former KKR batter added.
Rohit Sharma Likely To Join LSG
The growing speculation is that Rohit Sharma may well end up at LSG, with reports claiming the franchise owners want to get hold of the T20 World Cup-winning captain. While the owner of LSG confirmed that Rohit is on his wishlist, he refuted all the rumors stating that the franchise has kept aside as many as INR 50 crores to buy the India captain at the auction.
In conversation with India Today, the Lucknow Super Giants owner said that:
“Tell me one thing. Does anybody know if Rohit Sharma is available at the action? The entire rumour is baseless. We have to see if MI release Rohit Sharma. Then, we have to see if Rohit makes himself available for bidding. Even if he does, how will you manage to get the other 22 players if you spend half of your entire budget on one player?”
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He then revealed about his plan if Rohit Sharma were available for auction
“Everyone has a wishlist to have the best captain and player with you. But, this is like ‘if wishes were horses’. It is not about what I want. It’s about what you can do with available resources. No matter what I wish for, every franchise will wish the same. You’re not going to get everything.”
Rohit Sharma’s IPL Career
Rohit Sharma has been the most successful player in IPL, he has won six IPL titles- one with Deccan Chargers and other five as the captain of Mumbai Indians. He is the joint most successful captain along with MS Dhoni. Rohit joined Mumbai Indians in 2011 and became the skipper in 2013, he made his first appearance as the captain and also won his maiden title for Mumbai Indians. After leading MI for 11 years, he was replaced by Hardik Pandya as the captain in 2024.
His only ton came against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2012. Rohit has also been Mumbai’s top scorer with more than 6000 runs in his IPL. His best season was in 2013 where he accumulated 538 runs.
Under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, Mumbai Indians have won the trophy in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020.
