Rohit Sharma may not be having the best season with the bat but his leadership continues to be a game-changer for Mumbai Indians. On Sunday night at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Mumbai registered their only second win of the season by halting Delhi Capitals’ dominant run with a 12-run victory, and the turning point came not with the ball or bat — but from the dugout, led by Rohit’s sharp cricketing instincts.
As Delhi chased a daunting 206, they seemed well in control, powered by a spectacular knock from Karun Nair. Returning to the IPL after three years, Karun Nair lit up the stadium with a 22-ball half-century, his first in seven seasons, steering Delhi to a commanding 135 for two by the 12th over. Although Mumbai managed to break through with quick wickets, Delhi still had momentum, with finishers like Tristan Stubbs and Ashutosh Sharma looking poised to take them home.
But then came Rohit’s intervention. In the 14th over, he signaled from the dugout to switch the ball — an option introduced under a new IPL rule this season, allowing teams to change the ball after 10 overs in night games to mitigate dew. The move paid off instantly. Karn Sharma struck on the third delivery of the over, removing Stubbs, and soon after, dismissed KL Rahul who was looking in good touch. What followed was a dramatic shift — Delhi which was once cruising at over 11 runs per over managed only 22 runs in the next 24 balls.
Even with a brief counterattack from Vipraj Nigam, Mumbai stayed composed. Mitchell Santner applied the brakes in the 18th over and the game was sealed with a chaotic 19th over that saw three batters run out in succession. Delhi’s chase crumbled under pressure and Mumbai walked away with a much-needed win.
Interestingly, this wasn’t the first time Rohit’s on-field awareness turned the tide. Just last week against Lucknow Super Giants, though not in the playing XI, he advised a slower variation against Nicholas Pooran — a suggestion that resulted in Pooran’s dismissal a few balls later.
Despite scoring just 56 runs in five matches this season and averaging only 11.20, Rohit continues to be an indispensable asset to Mumbai — not for his runs but for his cricketing brain. His average may have dipped since 2023 but his impact remains unmistakable, proving that leadership defines greatness irrespective of numbers. Agree?
