Rohit Sharma breaks silence on captaincy saga: 'I was the captain, now I'm not; a lot has changed'

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Apr 5, 2025, 14:23 IST

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Rohit Sharma discusses his evolved role within Mumbai Indians from middle-order batter and captain to opening batsman. Despite changes, his focus remains on winning games and trophies for MI. He highlighted the inclusion of new players like Trent Boult and Mitchell Santner bringing experience, aiming to win the IPL trophy.

Rohit Sharma breaks silence on captaincy saga: 'I was the captain, now I'm not; a lot has changed'

Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya (AFP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Rohit Sharma shared insights on how his role has evolved over the years within the Mumbai Indians setup, from adapting to new responsibilities to leading the team to multiple titles. He acknowledged that while a lot has changed since he started, his passion and desire to win games and trophies for the franchise remain the same.
Rohit has endured his worst IPL start since 2020. He has struggled to find form in the first three matches of IPL 2025, beginning with a duck in the campaign opener against Chennai Super Kings.

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He failed again against Gujarat Titans, scoring only 8 runs in MI’s 36-run defeat on Saturday, followed by 13 runs in the match against Kolkata Knight Riders, where he came in as an Impact Sub.
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"Since I started, things have obviously changed. I used to bat in the middle order; now, I open the innings. I was the captain; now, I’m not. Some of my teammates from our championship-winning seasons are now in coaching roles. So, roles have changed, a lot has changed, but mindset remains the same.

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"What I want to do for this team has not changed, and that is to go out there and win games and trophies. That is what Mumbai Indians are known for. Over the years, we have won trophies and turned games around from situations no one believed in. That is what MI and Mumbai are all about," Rohit said on JioHotstar's special feature ‘Charcha with Rohit Sharma.’
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Rohit, the most successful IPL captain of all time with five titles, also spoke about the new players who have joined Mumbai Indians this season.

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"Guys like Trent Boult, who have been here before, bring a lot of experience and understand MI’s culture. Then we have Mitchell Santner, the New Zealand captain, who adds both experience and class. Players like Will Jacks and Reece Topley bring variety, while Ryan Rickelton is an exciting young prospect."
"Each of these players adds something different to the team, and when you bring that together as a collective unit, it makes a big impact. We also have several young Indian players with great potential, and I am looking forward to playing alongside them. My immediate goal is to win the TATA IPL trophy and bring the glory back to Mumbai Indians," he added.

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TOI Sports Desk

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