Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra questioned Rohit Sharma’s form after Mumbai Indians suffered a 12-run loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Monday.
This was RCB’s first win at the Wankhede against MI in the last decade. Playing at home, Rohit was used as an impact substitute, replacing Vignesh Puthur after missing the last game due to injury.
Rohit looked good for his short duration at the crease as he raced to 17 runs but was dismissed by an inswinger from Yash Dayal. In four matches Rohit has played in IPL 2025, he has returned with scores of 0, 8, 13, and 17.
“When it was Mumbai’s turn to bat, Rohit Sharma got out again. He was looking alright but got out again. He got bowled to Yash Dayal’s ball. Now it’s 11 innings and only one 20-plus score,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
Soon after, MI were reduced to 99-4 after SKY was dismissed after scoring 28 runs off 26 balls.
“Ryan Rickelton looks dangerous but then he got out. When Suryakumar Yadav got out, Mumbai had a two percent chance of winning. However, Tilak Varma. He was insulted slightly in the last match. Hardik (Pandya) said later that he (Tilak) had an injury in his hand,” Chopra observed.
After the game, Hardik Pandya revealed Tilak Varma was carrying a hand injury during the 12-run loss against LSG when the team decided to retire him out. However, Varma bounced back strongly as he scored 56 off just 29 balls against RCB.
“I am saying why do you let us speculate? You should tell. When you came after the match, you should have said that Tilak had a hand injury, and that’s why you retired him out and there was nothing more to it. We people talk when you don’t tell anything. However, Tilak Varma batted incredibly well,” he added.
MI captain Hardik Pandya scored a blistering knock of 42 runs off just 15 balls as he was able to hit the ground running and Chopra lauded the all-rounder.
“Then the way Hardik hit, 20 runs off four balls. Fours and sixes, and who was bowling – Josh Hazlewood. That partnership brought Mumbai back into the game. In fact, it seemed like they might win the game, but run chases change in two balls. First, Tilak Varma got out, and Hardik Pandya got out right after him. In the end, it was so near and yet so far,” he said.
Chopra noted that RCB bowlers came up with a collective effort to restrict the opposition.
“Krunal Pandya picked up four wickets and saved the 19 runs that were required to be saved in the end. Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled well. Suyash Sharma was like Devdutt Padikkal – underrated, but four economical overs,” Chopra observed.
Mumbai Indians will next take on Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Sunday.
