Mumbai indians (MI) will tackle gujarat Titans (GT) within the Eliminator fixture of the indian top-quality League 2025 (IPL 2025) on Friday, May 30, at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh international Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh.

The hardik Pandya-led facet misplaced their momentum proper on the top of the league degree as they lost out on their ultimate 3 fits and overlooked the golden chance to finish in the top two spots on the points desk.

As a result, MI finds themselves in a must-win situation from right here onwards and could want their big players to step up. In the face of their largest venture, who else can the 5-time champions flip as much as their former skipper, Rohit Sharma, who has led them to all five of their trophies?

Rohit has had a blended season thus far, as he has scored 329 runs from thirteen innings at a median of 27.41 and a strike rate of 147.53, with three and a half centuries to his call. He began the season with a duck towards chennai Amazing Kings (CSK) and had a string of low scores in his first seven innings.

However, He discovered his shape within the repeat fixture in opposition to CSK, scoring a healthy-triumphing 76* (45).

The opening batter, in addition, notched up nineteen fifties in opposition to Sunrisers hyderabad and rajasthan Royals, but the ultimate three furnishings noticed Rohit return to his dismal form, signaling alarming concerns for MI heading into the playoffs.

The previous MI captain does not have a memorable document inside the playoffs, having scored just 316 runs from 21 innings at a mean of 15.80 and a strike price of 108.96 with simply Nineteen Fifties to his name. Each of Rohit's half-centuries has come within the all-essential very last for MI, within the 2015 and 2020 variants, respectively.

Rohit's past heroics in IPL playoffs

He scored a blistering 50 (26) in opposition to CSK within the 2015 very last and changed into the adjudged player of the in shape for leading MI to their 2nd identity. He additionally scored a remarkable sixty-eight (51) inside the 2020 final, assisting his group in chasing down 157 and ending up the primary team to win five IPL trophies.

Consequently, Rohit does understand a way to rise for his team at essential stages and take them over the road. His recent performances in the knockout ranges of the ICC activities have also established his real worth as an in-shape winner. Since the 2023 ODI World Cup, Rohit has scored 264 runs from six innings in the knockout tiers at a median of 44 and a strike rate of 122.22, with two half-centuries to his name.

He played a fiery innings of forty-seven (29) within the semi-final of the Sector Cup 2023 and further hit fifty-seven (39) inside the semi-very last of the t20 international Cup 2024 against England. Later in the Champions Trophy 2025 final, Rohit had a participant of the fit overall performance of 76 (seventy-six).

A highly spiced pitch in Mullanpur awaits Rohit.

As a result, Rohit has spoken back to his critics in fashion and has become an advocate for india while being the most within the past 17 months. In the Eliminator fixture against gujarat Titans, MI will desperately want Rohit to get them off to a very good start, especially in the absence of Ryan Rickelton, who has flown back to south africa to prepare for the Arena Check championship final 2023.

Former india cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has also backed Rohit to go big inside the playoffs, bringing up his titanic energy and capacity to score in critical matches.

"He can do it most effectively with the bat due to the fact he is not any greater than the captain. You can't inform him now to run the group well. If you have a look at his numbers—329 runs—it's been a mixed bag. After years, he scored successive Nineteen Fifties, but the fact is in the remaining four (3) fits, he has not scored massively. Within the enterprise stop of the match, that shape hasn't been on show," stated Chopra on JioHotstar.

"Within the last fit, he performed a bit out of man or woman. He was not even looking to hit at a great rate if you omit one over. However, there's hope. Anything we say about kohli is proper for Rohit too: Cometh the hour, cometh the person. At least kohli will get one more opportunity; Rohit has only one chance now to show his worth. There may be no Ryan Rickelton, and there may be no Will Jacks. If you don't have fit winners, the obligation will fall on the large pillar in the building, and that's Rohit," he introduced.

If the Qualifier 1 sport between royal challengers Bengaluru and punjab Kings changed into any indication,

The floor in Mullanpur may have a few bites in it for the seamers.

It makes Rohit's role all the more vital, as the team will bank on him to place the bowlers under pressure early on and not allow them to settle.

within the beyond Rohit has helped MI to script tremendous comebacks inside the IPL with both his smart management and batting talents. On Friday, MI will yet again require their 'Hitman' to strike and take them one step in the direction of an ancient 6th identity.