IPL 2025: MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene reveals reason behind using Rohit Sharma as Impact Player

Rohit Sharma is being used as Impact Player by MI in IPL 2025.

Mumbai Indians (MI) are all set to clash with Gujarat Titans (GT) in their upcoming clash of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 on Tuesday, May 6. Hardik Pandya & Co. will clash with GT at their home venue – Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Ahead of MI vs GT clash, MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene revealed a crucial reason why Rohit Sharma has been utilized as an Impact Player in the ongoing IPL 2025.

Sharma has been a crucial opening batsman for the side. He struggled to score runs in the initial games by getting out for low scores. He was also dropped from the playing XI. However, the right-handed batsman made a stunning comeback later and smacked back-to-back half-centuries.

Sharma has mustered 293 runs across 10 matches with a top knock of unbeaten 76*. The MI opener has a batting average of 32.56 and a stunning strike rate of 155.02. The former MI skipper has slammed three half-centuries so far in the season.

Rohit Sharma was nursing a niggle from Champions Trophy: Mahela Jayawardene

Notably, Sharma did not play as an Impact Player in MI’s last game against Rajasthan Royals (RR). However, he has been used as an Impact Player in a few games during the tournament. MI head coach Jayawardene revealed a crucial reason behind the same ahead of the MI vs GT clash.

He informed that Sharma was suffering from a niggle he sustained during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The ICC tournament took place before IPL 2025. Also, the team did not want to push him too hard for fielding.

“No, it wasn’t at the start. Obviously, Rohit was on the field in some of the games. 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,” Jayawardene said

“You need guys with speed and all that. So that also comes into play. 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,” Jayawardene further added.

Meanwhile, Sharma is the third-highest run-scorer for MI in IPL 2025 after Suryakumar Yadav and Ryan Rickelton – his opening partner. Sharma also scored a half-century (53) in their last match against RR, which MI won by a huge margin of 100 runs.

The five-time champions currently occupy third spot in the points table with 14 points. They have played 11 games, winning seven and losing four. They need to win two more games out of the next three to fix their berth in the playoffs.

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