Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene has shed light on the strategic decision to primarily utilize former captain Rohit Sharma as an impact substitute during the ongoing IPL 2025 season. Jayawardene cited a lingering injury sustained during India’s victorious Champions Trophy campaign and the team’s evolving tactical requirements as the key factors influencing this approach.

Mahela Jayawadene opens up about Rohit Sharma’s injury

Speaking at a press conference ahead of Mumbai Indians’ crucial encounter against Gujarat Titans, Jayawardene revealed that Rohit has been managing a “niggle” since the earlier part of the year. “No, it wasn’t at the start. Obviously, Rohit was on the field in some of the games,” Jayawardene stated, addressing the initial phase of the season.

He further elaborated that the composition of the team and the demands of various venues necessitate players capable of fulfilling multiple roles, including agile fielding, particularly near the boundaries. “But if you look at the composition of the team, most of the guys are doing dual roles. Most of them are bowling. At the same time, some of the venues need boundary runners,” he explained. “You need guys with speed and all that. So that also comes into play.”

Jayawardene stressed that the decision to use Rohit as an Impact Sub was not a pre-planned strategy but rather a reactive measure to both his physical condition and the dynamic needs of the squad. “Rohit was also nursing a niggle from the Champions Trophy. So we wanted to make sure that we don’t push him too hard. And we have managed that while batting is the most important thing,” he added.

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Rohit Sharma rediscovers his form in IPL 2025

The 38-year-old opener, a stalwart of the IPL and a five-time title-winning captain for MI, has predominantly featured as a specialist batter this season. He typically enters the game as an impact substitute, often joining the field only towards the end of Mumbai Indians’ bowling innings and has been noticeably absent from fielding for the majority of matches. This strategy, according to Jayawardene, is aimed at managing Rohit’s workload and preserving his fitness for his primary role at the top of the batting order.

Despite a somewhat slow start to the season, Rohit has rediscovered his form at a critical juncture, accumulating 293 runs in 10 innings, including three half-centuries. His valuable contributions have provided solid starts for the team and have coincided with Mumbai Indians’ impressive resurgence. The team has strung together six consecutive wins, climbing to third place on the IPL 2025 points table with 14 points from 11 matches.

With two home games remaining, MI are in a strong position to secure a playoff berth.

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