Can Rohit Sharma transform the mood and momentum of Mumbai Indians?

By K.R. Nayar 

Whenever Rohit Sharma produces a big knock, it is inspirational—not just for his team but for his fans too. He is an assassin of bowlers, yet he massacres them without expressing any hatred or anger towards them. Often, he carries a smile and goes about the task of demolishing the attack as if it is a habit he cannot change. His knock of 84 in Mumbai Indians (MI)’s win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on May 4, 2026, at the Wankhede Stadium was one such unforgettable exhibition.

Rohit is on the verge of his 50th IPL fifty. He crafted his 49th half-century off just 27 balls. He wiped away the usual belief that missing a few matches can affect one’s form and rhythm, showing no signs of having been away since April 12 due to a hamstring injury. Watch his innings closely, and one can see the beauty of his method unfold - there is patience before the storm. He took 15 balls for his first 15 runs and then shifted gears to blaze his way to a scintillating 44-ball 84.

There is a reason why Rohit is called the Hitman of Indian cricket. His innings was studded with seven sixes and six fours. Unfortunately he missed his third IPL century. Teams should consider themselves lucky if he is stopped when in full flow. Although he turned 39 on April 30, just days before this knock, his batting seems to say he is 39 years young.

MI opener Ryan Rickelton, who hit 83 off 32 balls, was involved in a 143-run opening stand with Rohit. After Rickelton bagged the Player of the Match award, he credited his success to his chemistry with Rohit. Having trailed Rohit’s career and reported some of his finest knocks, one wonders whether there would be any player who has not had a good chemistry with him. One can emphatically say that among the present stars, there is maturity in his conduct, humility in his greatness, and an openness that draws both media and fans closer to him.

People often wonder what lies behind his six-hitting abilities. While many speak of the three D’s—devotion, dedication, and determination—Rohit’s genius seems to rest on three T’s: technique, timing, and temperament. He barely looks like a super-strong man, yet the ball sails over the boundary as if it has been hit by a muscle man. The power behind his shots has a lot to do with the swing of his bat, and sometimes, even though it appears to be a lazy shot, yet it travels into the stands.

Rohit’s knocks prove one thing very clearly—that his exceptional hand-eye coordination has a lot to do with his hitting. He has this extraordinary ability to pick the length of the ball early, even against the fastest bowlers. Every shot is dipped in elegance ­- be it the lofted shot over extra cover, the flick over mid-wicket, or even his pull shots, which surely lands amidst the fans.

Suryakumar Yadav, who was the stand-in captain for this match, has the same 360-degree range of shots as Rohit, but he has been struggling for rhythm. In the 2015 season, MI staged a comeback after losing their first six games to win the title. So, can Rohit inspire MI to more victories by carving out a winning streak?

In this match, Rohit helped MI achieve their highest-ever successful chase at Wankhede, chasing a score of 229 with six wickets in hand and eight balls to spare. He was forced to skip five matches owing to his injury, but his return has also ended MI’s three-match losing streak. That reveals the importance of Rohit’s presence in the team. He is a World Cup winning captain who can transform the mood, the momentum and the destiny of a team.