IPL 2025: Has Rohit Sharma lost the hunger to score runs?

The Mumbai Indians (MI), one of the most successful franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL), recently suffered a crucial defeat at the hands of the Punjab Kings (PBKS). This loss saw them slip to fourth place on the IPL 2025 points table heading into the playoffs. While the team has shown flashes of brilliance throughout the tournament, one of the major concerns looming over the franchise is the form of senior batter and former captain, Rohit Sharma. Rohit, a stalwart of Indian cricket and a multiple-time IPL-winning skipper, has struggled to make a significant impact with the bat this season. His inconsistency has caught the attention of former India fast bowler Atul Wassan, who recently offered a critical assessment of Rohit’s current form. Wassan remarked that Rohit appears to have lost the same hunger and drive that once defined his batting, especially when it came to playing big innings under pressure.

Rohit Sharma has once again failed to score consistently in IPL 2025

According to Wassan, it is perhaps understandable, given that Rohit has achieved nearly every accolade in international and franchise cricket. With a decorated career behind him, finding the same level of motivation to push himself in the grueling T20 format could be a challenge. He stressed that unless Rohit rediscovers his passion and desire to dominate, he may continue to struggle in the latter stages of his IPL career. As MI heads into the knockout rounds, the spotlight remains firmly on Rohit Sharma to step up and deliver in crunch moments — something he has done many times before.

“He seems to be a bit disinterested; the motivation, the fire in the belly, has satiated. He has won almost everything, from winning the T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy to retiring from Test cricket. Hence, to motivate yourself to play at this level of cricket every day is a very tough task," stated former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan.  

The IPL 2025 season has been rather underwhelming for Rohit Sharma, one of India's most celebrated cricketers and a two-time T20 World Cup winner. Despite his stature and experience, Rohit has struggled to find consistency with the bat throughout the tournament. In the 13 matches he has played so far, the veteran opener has managed to score just 329 runs, averaging 27.41 — a figure far below expectations for a player of his caliber.

Although he has recorded three half-centuries during the campaign, those performances have been sporadic and haven’t translated into match-winning contributions for the Mumbai Indians. His strike rate of 147.53 does reflect a positive intent, but the inability to convert starts into substantial innings has been a major concern. His most recent fifty-plus score came almost a month ago, on May 1, against the Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Since then, runs have dried up, and Rohit’s lack of form has been one of the talking points as MI heads into the playoff stage. With his experience and match-winning ability, the pressure is now on Rohit to deliver when it matters most. MI fans and management alike will be hoping for a vintage knock to help turn their campaign around in the crucial knockout games.

In Mumbai Indians’ most recent clash against the Punjab Kings (PBKS), Rohit Sharma once again showed glimpses of form but was unable to build on a promising start. The experienced opener looked steady at the crease but failed to convert his start into a meaningful innings, falling to spinner Harpreet Brar after scoring 24 runs off 21 deliveries. It was yet another outing where Rohit appeared to settle in before throwing his wicket away, continuing a pattern that has defined much of his 2025 IPL campaign.

For a player renowned for his ability to turn modest beginnings into match-defining knocks, this recurring trend has been a point of concern for both fans and the franchise. With the IPL playoffs now underway, Mumbai Indians will be desperately hoping for their seasoned campaigner to rediscover his rhythm and deliver when it counts the most. Known as the ‘Hitman’ for his explosive stroke play and big-match temperament, Rohit has the experience and pedigree to be a game-changer in high-pressure encounters. As MI eyes a deep run in the tournament, they will need their former captain to step up and lead from the front with the bat. A timely return to form from Rohit could be the spark Mumbai needs to regain momentum and challenge for the title once again.