Mumbai Indians’ (MI) batting coach Kieron Pollard on Thursday said Rohit Sharma will not be under pressure after a string of low scores and has a big knock around the corner.
The former MI captain has accumulated just 21 runs in three innings and scored just four fifty-plus totals in IPL since 2023.
“I’ve played alongside Rohit since under-19 cricket and he has forged his name in history. He has performed in different situations, different formats of the game. He’s a legend of the game in his own right.
“There are times when you have a couple low scores. He has earned the right to now enjoy this cricket and not be pressurized in certain situations. So, let’s not judge [him] on a couple low scores. We fail more than we succeed and I’m sure we’ll be seeing when he comes and he gives us that big score,” Pollard said ahead of his side’s Indian Premier League game against Lucknow Super Giants.
Mumbai Indians’ Rohit Sharma in action during the IPL 2025.
| Photo Credit:
EMMANUAL YOGINI/ The Hindu
Mumbai Indians’ Rohit Sharma in action during the IPL 2025.
| Photo Credit:
EMMANUAL YOGINI/ The Hindu
The five-time champion handed a debut to the unheralded Ashwani Kumar in its previous game against Kolkata Knight Riders. Ashwani was the third domestic player to debut for the franchise this season.
Pollard said the persistence to field younger players stems from the need to prepare the squad for the coming years.
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“There’s a place for everyone. At some point in time, even the superstars we speak about were young talent. There’s a cycle, there are generational changes and we need to accept them. [But] We have young guys coming in at different times and doing well, and we tend to put a lot of expectations on their shoulders. So, I think there should be a balance. Every single year of the IPL, you get good, young talent which is healthy for Indian cricket,” Pollard said.
MI started its campaign with two defeats before securing a victory in its third game against defending champion Kolkata Knight Riders. On his side being assigned the tag of slow starters, Pollard said: “I can safely tell you from playing and [now] even being on the other side of the room, it is not something that we want to happen. We continue to try to prepare to win from the first game. It’s all part and parcel of the sport. A big auction took place and there are some teams that get the combinations right quicker than some. For us, we continue to work hard on that and hopefully we can string some wins together.”
Pacer Akash Deep, who was completing his recovery from a back injury, joined the Super Giants’ squad on Thursday. The 28-year-old will be a welcome addition to a side which has multiple pacers ruled out due to injuries.
Akash appreciated his team’s performances so far and said its best is yet to come. “The IPL is a long tournament. In the three games we have played, we’ve taken lots of positives. For instance, the way we have bowled despite having four bowlers injured. I think our best is yet to come,” he said.
On working with Zaheer Khan, Akash said: “I feel lucky to be getting the chance to work with Zaheer Khan for two months. He has immense international experience, he can spot the areas that I need to work on and where I can improve. I think I will get a lot of help in fine-tuning the smaller details of my bowling.”