Since India’s ODI series against New Zealand earlier this year, Rohit Sharma has been training hard and working on his fitness for the ODI World Cup 2027. The upcoming Indian Premier League season gives the five-time title-winning captain a good chance to show his form and improve his chances of being selected. In the previous IPL edition, Rohit mostly featured as an Impact Sub.
Rohit Sharma urged to play full matches and support Hardik Pandya with leadership
This time, Aakash Chopra believes the opener should play full matches and help captain Hardik Pandya on the field whenever he needs guidance in leadership. Chopra also noted that Rohit is currently “the fittest, meanest and probably at his strongest” and urged him to fully capitalise on his fitness.
“Rohit Sharma has been used as the 12th man who just bats, but I feel that the kind of leader he has been, a player like him should be on the field. In tough matches, when you need to take certain calls, when a captain sometimes needs a shoulder to lean on, Rohit Sharma can do that for Hardik Pandya,” Chopra said while speaking on JioStar's 'Game Plan – Know Your Team.
“Logically, if you are fit, you should play the whole game and not be substituted. Especially when you are batting second, you shouldn't come in as an impact player. An opener is not used to watching 20 overs of the match from the dugout. Opening batters are used to staying on the field, preparing accordingly and then hitting the ground running. Rohit Sharma is the fittest, meanest and maybe the strongest at this point in time, so he should be on the ground for all 40 overs. That's actually how Mumbai Indians will be able to make full use of Rohit Sharma,” he added.
