'Even if you think like Rohit': R. Ashwin shares his thoughts on Rohit Sharma's career with the Mumbai Indians

NEW DELHI: Ravichandran Ashwin, the renowned Indian off-spinner, recently expressed his opinion on Rohit Sharma's future with the Mumbai Indians (MI) franchise in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. Ashwin believes that Rohit will remain loyal to MI and continue playing for them despite the change in captaincy last year.
In the previous season, Hardik Pandya took over the reins as the skipper of MI, one of the most successful teams in IPL history.This decision sparked some criticism from a portion of the fanbase.
However, Ashwin stated on his YouTube channel, "Even if you think like Rohit, it's not wrong at all. I don't want any headache. I have been a captain for India. I have captained Mumbai many times. Even if I am not a captain, I am going to Mumbai happily. If I play for Mumbai, it's super. I am sure most players are like that. After a stage, money doesn't matter for some of those players. That's the thing."
Rohit had a respectable IPL 2024 season with the bat, accumulating 417 runs at an average of 32.07 and a strike rate of 150. He scored a century and a half-century, with his highest score being 105*. Throughout his tenure with MI, which began in 2011, Rohit has been a true legend for the franchise.
He has played 199 IPL matches for MI, amassing 5,084 runs at an average of 29.39 and a strike rate of 129.86. In 195 innings for MI, he has scored a century and 34 fifties, with his best score being 109*.
Under Rohit's captaincy, which he assumed from Ricky Ponting in 2013, MI experienced a golden era, clinching the trophy five times in 10 years (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020) and reaching the playoffs twice. Hardik Pandya succeeded him as the captain last year after a successful stint with the Gujarat Titans (GT), including a title-winning debut season in 2022.
Rohit's achievements with MI extend beyond the IPL, as he has also led the team to two Champions League T20 titles in 2011 and 2013. He is MI's all-time leading run-scorer, with 5,357 runs in 208 matches and 204 innings at an average of 29.59 and a strike rate of nearly 130, including a century and 35 fifties.
Before joining MI, Rohit represented the now-defunct Deccan Chargers from 2008 to 2010. He played 45 matches for the Hyderabad-based franchise, scoring 1,170 runs at an average of 30.79 and a strike rate of over 131, with eight fifties in 44 innings. His best score for the Deccan Chargers was 76*. Rohit won the IPL 2009 season with this franchise, making him a six-time IPL champion overall.
In the history of the IPL, Rohit is the fourth-highest run-getter, having scored 6,254 runs in 244 matches at an average of 29.63 and a strike rate of 130.15.
He has scored a century and 42 fifties in 239 innings, with his highest score being 109*.