IPL 2022 | Graeme Smith hints reason for Rohit Sharma's dry run

Former South African captain, Graeme Smith, has opined that the burden of leading India in all formats might be the reason behind Rohit Sharma’s dry run.

Besides leading India, Rohit has also donned the captain’s hat at the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, the ace opener seems to have lost his touch in the ongoing edition of the tournament. In the four matches played, Rohit has only amassed 80 runs, with an average of 20. 

The Mumbai lad’s poor run with the bat has not augured well for MI. While players like Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Verma have impressed with individual brilliance, the five-time champion’s batting has not played to its full potential.

The Paltan have had a disastrous start to their IPL campaign. They have been unable to get the first points on board even after playing four matches. Rohit Sharma’s form with the bat has also come under the scanner. 

Speaking to cricket.com, the ex-South African cricketer commented on the 34-year old cricketer’s form, “Rohit is the energy at the top of the order. (He) Gets them off to a start and sets up the game that allows everyone else to play. When he is scoring runs, MI are going to win a lot of the time. 

“This is the first tournament he is captaining MI since becoming India’s white-ball captain. Does that mental strain take a toll in the IPL? It’s something to consider.

Currently featuring in the IPL as a commentator, the legendary opener stressed the need for the MI skipper to regain his form. Mumbai’s fortunes depend a lot on their captain’s form. If Rohit fires at the top, Mumbai can emerge as a feared batting lineup. 

Smith explained, “He’s just such a key player. If you look at the lineup, Rohit, an outstanding player, hasn’t found form. You’ve got Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav injured for a couple of games. He has now come in and is looking good, and then Pollard as the power finisher. You’ve got Brevis there, but he’s a young man. That’s a very strong batting lineup.”

Mumbai Indians desperately need a win to end their losing streak. Smith has also called for the inclusion of Tymal Mills and Fabian Allen into the XI. Allen’s left-arm spin can become effective against Punjab’s batting lineup, which is dominated by right-handed batters.

Smith added, “I’ve picked Brevis at No. 3 or 4, depending on where Suryakumar Yadav is going to bat, just because it’s his third game and deserves a bit of opportunity. I’ve stuck with Pollard. He’s shown glimpses of his power and form. Whether he should come up slightly in the order is another question.”