Indian cricket has long been synonymous with larger-than-life figures, and Rohit Sharma is no exception. Nicknamed as “Hitman,” Rohit has dazzled fans with his elegance and power at the crease for over a decade. However, his recent struggles in the Indian Premier League (IPL) have sparked intense scrutiny, with former cricketers like Virender Sehwag and Manoj Tiwary openly questioning his performance. The comparisons to Virat Kohli, another stalwart of Indian cricket, have only added fuel to the fire.
Rohit Sharma’s decline in form
Rohit’s IPL career has been a rollercoaster ride. While he remains one of the most successful captains in IPL history, leading the Mumbai Indians (MI) to five titles, his individual performances with the bat have been inconsistent. In IPL 2025, Rohit’s form has hit a new low. Across the first two matches of the season, he has managed to score just 8 runs, including a single-digit dismissal against Gujarat Titans (GT) where Mohammed Siraj bowled him out with a delivery that left fans and experts stunned.
This poor start follows a disappointing IPL 2024 campaign where Rohit struggled to make an impact despite scoring a solitary century. His inability to deliver consistent big scores has led many to question whether he can still be relied upon as MI’s batting mainstay.
Virender Sehwag and Manoj Tiwary call out Rohit Sharma for his inconsistency
Former cricketers Sehwag and Tiwary have minced no words in their criticism of Rohit’s IPL performances. Speaking on Cricbuzz, Tiwary pointed out that despite being one of the most talented players in Indian cricket history, Rohit has never produced a 600-700 run season in his 18-year-long IPL career—a feat that Kohli has achieved multiple times.
“Look, I’m telling you, I don’t want to be tough, but I must be. For some players, you have to be. Look, it’s high time Rohit Sharma got back among the runs. The ability of a player like Rohit Sharma is not 400. Last season, he scored 400, he hit a century, that’s fine. But where is the 800-900 season? Rohit is just not able to have these types of seasons. Why does Virat Kohli always score? You tell me. It’s equally good. It’s equally good, but there should be a season where Rohit scores 600-700,” Tiwary said
Sehwag echoed this sentiment, stating that it might be too late for fans to expect such prolific seasons from Rohit at this stage of his career.
“What Manoj Tiwary said about Rohit Sharma, where is that season? Isn’t it too late for this type of season to come (laughs)? We are also his fans, but we are just asking where the season of 600-700 runs is. When has Rohit Sharma done that? It has been 18 years, when it has not happened in 18 years, how can you hope for this to happen now when he is at the last part of his career?” Sehwag added with characteristic bluntness.
Also READ: IPL 2025: Hardik Pandya explains MI’s loss to GT amid Rohit Sharma’s flop show
Virat Kohli comparison: Fair or unfair?
Kohli’s name inevitably comes up when discussing modern-day batting greats. Kohli’s consistency in the IPL—highlighted by his record-breaking 973-run season in 2016—has set a benchmark that few can match. While Rohit has had flashes of brilliance, including two IPL centuries and several match-winning knocks, he has never dominated an entire season like Kohli.
The comparison between the two players is not limited to their IPL records. Both have been leaders for India across formats, but Kohli’s ability to deliver under pressure and rack up runs consistently often overshadows Rohit’s more sporadic contributions.
As Mumbai Indians gear up for their next match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), all eyes will be on Rohit. Former England captain Michael Vaughan humorously suggested that Rohit should imagine himself playing in an Indian jersey rather than MI colors to rediscover his form. While said in jest, Vaughan’s comment underscores the urgency for Rohit to step up if MI are to remain competitive this season.
