Rohit Sharma: How the Hitman’s a miss in the IPL

Rohit Sharma fans, brace yourselves, because this one’s going to sting. We’re diving deep into the IPL slump of one of India’s greatest hitters – Rohit Sharma, aka the Hitman. Now, before you rush to defend him, hear me out. Rohit's IPL numbers tell a worrying story, and it’s not one any fan of his wants to hear.Let’s start with 2025. Rohit’s form this season has hit rock bottom.

With just 38 runs in four innings, and a highest score of 17, the big bucks Mumbai Indians spent—₹16.3 crore on him—are looking more like a gamble gone wrong. But here’s the thing: this slump isn’t new.The last time Rohit averaged over 40 in a season? It was 2016. Yep, you heard that right. A season when he was at his absolute prime. Since then, it's been a series of underwhelming years.

In 2024, his average of 32 was inflated by that lone knock of 105 not out—a knock that came in a losing cause. After that, he scored just 88 runs in his next 7 innings.And it doesn’t end there. In IPL 2022, he averaged a mere 19. In 2023, it was 21.

This is not the Hitman we once knew. The guy who could tear bowlers apart is now struggling to even get going. What about his strike rate, you ask? Well, it’s consistently hovering around 125-130, except for 2024, where it was a rare 150. Not exactly explosive, right?

So, what’s going wrong? Mumbai Indians are already struggling this season, and their opening woes are glaring. If they want to stage a comeback, Rohit Sharma needs to rediscover his magic at the top of the order. The Hitman’s bat must roar again if Mumbai are to have any chance of making a playoff push. But time’s running out for Rohit Sharma. He’s one of India’s greatest batters, but if this slump continues, the clock’s ticking on his IPL future. Can the Hitman find his groove before it’s too late? Only time will tell, but the pressure is mounting, and Mumbai’s hopes rest heavily on his shoulders.