The 17th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will find Rohit Sharma playing a different role for the Mumbai Indians (MI). He won’t be leading the side for the first time since 2013. The current India captain, who carried MI to five IPL titles in a span of 11 editions, will play under Hardik Pandya. 

Rohit’s exclusion from the leadership raised eyebrows among many pundits and made the fans of the franchise furious. Since the appointment, the India opener made his first appearance in T20Is after the 2022 T20 World Cup. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, Jay Shah confirmed the Mumbai boy as India’s leader for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. 

As the ‘Hitman’ moves towards the tail end of his career, this new season of the IPL will be vital. 

Let’s take a look at three reasons why IPL 2024 is so important for Rohit Sharma:

1. Rohit Sharma looks to develop his mediocre IPL career

With the amount of skill, and comparing the standard Rohit Sharma has set in international cricket, his IPL career has been ordinary. In 243 games, he has notched up 6211 runs at an average of under 30 and a strike rate of 130 with 42 fifties and one century. 

Since the 2017 edition, the Mumbai boy has never gone past the 30 average. Only twice during those seven seasons, he has finished with a strike rate of over 130. Even in the last two seasons, he has milked just 600 runs in 30 games at an average of 20 and a strike rate of just over 125. The veteran has just a couple of fifties in 2023, and none in 2022. 

These numbers are enough for a player to get dropped, even with Rohit’s caliber. He will look to play without any pressure in this new season to raise the graph in his IPL career. 

2. Rohit’s form will decide India’s chances in the T20 WC 2024

India doesn’t have any game left, going into the World Cup. If their captain comes into the team with a poor IPL season, the mood of the camp won’t be light. With Rohit being already announced as the leader, he would look to prove the decision right. 

The member of India’s 2007 T20 WC triumph wasn’t in a good touch during the 2022 T20 WC. He collected just 116 runs in six innings at an average of 19.33 with only one fifty against Netherlands. However, his shifts in gear and the carefree mindset helped India to get flying starts in the 2023 ODI World Cup at home. 

Rohit will look to lead the team from the front and set a template to follow in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA). The preparation should begin from the IPL 2024. 

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3. Rohit will want to send a strong message to MI management

Removing India’s all-format captain was one of the bravest decisions from the Mumbai management. This came even after his incredible World Cup as the leader. Their head coach, Mark Boucher, said the decision was cricketing in nature, and to take pressure off Rohit’s back. 

However, the fans of the franchise didn’t support the decision at all. A few players too were disinterested with the announcement. Rohit now has a point to prove. He will look to hit the form to send a strong message to the Mumbai Indians management. 

The blue brigade will begin their campaign on March 24 against Gujrat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. 

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