MI v RCBRohit Sharma will win Player of Match award if MI make playoffs, says Ravi Shastri

By India Today Sports DeskFormer India head coach Ravi Shastri has backed Rohit Sharma to return to peak form, saying Mumbai Indians’ run of good form will only propel their skipper to overcome his lean patch.
Ravi Shastri’s comments came after Mumbai Indians scripted a new IPL record for the fastest 200-plus chase (in terms of balls remaining) as they gunned down 200 vs Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Wankhede Stadium in just 16.3 overs on Tuesday, May 9.

IPL 2023Full Coverage | Points Table

Rohit Sharma got out for just 7 after spending 8 balls in the middle in the steep chase but Mumbai rode on a stunning Suryakumar Yadav’s knock (83 from 35 balls) as they made light work of the chase against RCB in a crucial clash of the biggies.

It was Rohit Sharma’s 5th successive single-digit score as the 5-time title-winning captain has managed just 12 runs in his last 5 innings.
However, Ravi Shastri said he has a feeling that Rohit will return to peak form and step up big time for the 5-time champions if they make the playoffs, going on to say that an in-form Rohit will be a danger sign for opposition teams in the knockout phase of IPL.

“If they make the playoffs, a Man of the Match, I can guarantee you in one of the games in the playoffs,” Ravi Shastri told Star Sports.

“It’s a positive and it’s a danger sign for other teams. He is going to wake up, he is going to come out and smack it one day. I just hope he keeps the shape when he is attempting those aggressive shots. He has got so much of time to play the shots. He is bound to come back to form, there is no doubt about it,” he added.

Rohit Sharma has managed just 191 runs in 11 matches at a paltry average of less than 18 runs per innings in IPL 2023. Rohit, who has been guilty of trying expansive shots early on in his innings, took his time on Tuesday and batted 7 balls. However, he was out LBW to Wanindu Hasaranga when he tried to step up and play one through the leg side.

‘BIG PLAYERS DO THAT’

Despite Rohit’s early exit, Mumbai Indians managed to chase down 200 and move from No. 8 to No. 3 in the IPL 2023 points table.

MI are now well-placed to book a place in the playoffs for the first time since winning their 5th title in 2020.

Furthermore, former India fast bowler Irfan Pathan also backed Rohit Sharma to come good sooner than later, saying a man of his experience will thrive at the biggest stage.

“I think he is comeback sooner or later. Hopefully, for Mumbai Indians fans, he comes to form in the crunch situation. Big players do that. Big players always come back to form when the team needs them the most. He will use all his experience of playing the IPL, playing international cricket to return to form,” Pathan said.

Mumbai Indians, who began the season with 2 defeats, will fancy their chances when they face defending champions Gujarat Titans at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday.