Rohit Sharma vs Mustafizur Rahman: Who Has The Upperhand In The Face-Off?

Probuddha Bhattacharjee

Rohit Sharma and Mustafizur Rahman [Source: @Cricobserver21, @ICC/x.com]Rohit Sharma and Mustafizur Rahman [Source: @Cricobserver21, @ICC/x.com]

India's Champions Trophy 2025 will start with the game against Bangladesh. While India will be looking to overall their Asian rivals, Bangladesh will aim to present a tough challenge and surprise their opposition if possible. 

Bangladesh will aim for the early wicket of Rohit Sharma. If the Indian skipper gets set and going, it could spell trouble for Bangladesh. There is a notion that Sharma struggles against left-arm pacers and hence, Najmul Hossain Shanto might look to use Mustafizur Rahman against the explosive Indian opener.

Why Is Rohit Sharma Important For India?

  • Rohit Sharma enjoys batting against Bangladesh. So far, the Indian skipper has played 17 ODI games against Bangladesh and has scored 786 runs in them at an average of 56.14. The numbers clearly show that Rohit enjoys the Bangladesh bowling and could take the game away from them with his aggressive batting style. 
  • In ICC Champions Trophy, Rohit Sharma has played 10 games and has scored 481 Runs in them at an average of 53.44. This shows that the Indian opener has shown brilliant consistency in the tournament and this liking of Sharma for the Champions Trophy could spell trouble for Bangaldesh.
  • Rohit Sharma is known for his aggressive batting style. Besides, once set he can score the big impactful centuries and put the opposition completely out of the game. His record in the Champions Trophy and against Bangladesh in general along wit his ability to play the impactful big centuries make him an important cog of the Indian mechanism.

Rohit Sharma vs Mustafizur Rahman

Runs
Balls
Dismissal
Strike Rate
Average
1301233105.7043.30

Inference: The numbers suggest that Rohit Sharma has found Mustafizur Rahman easy to handle. While he has been dismissed three time in ODIs by the bowler, it has taken Mustafizur 41 deliveries to get his wicket once. 

Besides the consistency, Rohit has also been able to score runs freely against the left-arm pacer. He has scored at a strike rate of over 100 which establishes his dominance in this face-off. Thus if Rahman comes to bowl at Rohit during the game, there is a chance that Rohit might dominate the clash and put India on the front foot.