2 Rinku Singhs At Rohit Sharma's Price: Are MI Paying Too Much For India Captain?

Probuddha Bhattacharjee

Rinku Singh For KKR and Rohit Sharma for MI [Source: @KKRiders, @Gurlabh91001251/x.com]Rinku Singh For KKR and Rohit Sharma for MI [Source: @KKRiders, @Gurlabh91001251/x.com]

Rohit Sharma is a name that carries immense weight in Indian cricket. The former Mumbai Indians (MI) captain has led the franchise to multiple IPL trophies. But in IPL 2025, his performances have raised a burning question: Is he worth the money MI is spending on him?

Mumbai Indians’ Investment in Rohit Sharma

Every season, franchises spend crores to secure top players. For MI, Rohit Sharma remains a marquee player, with a whopping contract value of ₹16.3 crore. For every match he plays, MI spends ₹1.16 crore on him. That’s a huge investment, but has he justified it on the field?

The Numbers That Hurt For MI

Rohit Sharma in the CSK match [Source: iplt20.com]Rohit Sharma in the CSK match [Source: iplt20.com]

Let’s break it down:

IPL 2025, Match 3: Disaster struck. Rohit got out for a duck (0 runs in 4 balls), giving MI nothing in return. His efficiency? -10% (Negative performance!)

IPL 2025, Match 9: Rohit scored 8 runs off 4 balls. While he had a strong strike rate, the innings was too short to make a significant impact. His performance efficiency? Around 30%, meaning MI still lost a major chunk of their investment.

In these two matches, MI paid Rohit ₹2.32 crore. But how much of that was actually justified? Less than ₹70 lakh! The rest ₹1.62 crore was simply burnt money.

What Could MI Have Bought Instead?

To put things into perspective, let’s see what else MI could have done with that ₹1.62 crore:

Instead of burning ₹1.62 crore on Rohit's underwhelming performance, MI could have signed two Rinku Singhs.

Rinku Singh, with a contract of ₹13 crore, has a per-match cost of ₹93 lakh. That means, for the same money, MI could have secured two impactful middle-order batsmen who can change the game.

The Cost per Ball For Rohit Sharma In IPL 2025 – A Shocking Reality

Here’s where things get worse. If we calculate the cost per ball faced, the numbers are staggering:

IPL 2025, Match 9: ₹27.89 lakh per ball
IPL 2025, Match 3: ₹29.36 lakh per ball

Imagine spending almost ₹30 lakh just for a batter to face one ball! And in the first match, he didn’t even score a run. 

Should MI Reconsider Their Investment?

Rohit Sharma is a legend. His legacy in MI is unquestionable. He has the class and it is too early to even the question the investment given the contributions he has for the franchise. A player of Rohit Sharma will give positive returns pretty soon. But one thing is certain – Rohit Sharma needs to deliver soon, or MI’s financial burden will only grow heavier.