Michael Clarke Throws Support Behind Rohit Sharma During IPL Rough Patch
Pick up any cricket fan discussion in the IPL 2025 season, and you’ll hear plenty about Rohit Sharma’s current form. Just 38 runs from four matches is hardly what you’d expect from the Mumbai Indians captain, and it’s starting to make some fans nervous. Add a missed game due to a knee injury and whispers about his place in both the franchise and national squad quickly spread. But former Aussie skipper Michael Clarke isn’t buying into the panic. He’s been loud and clear—Rohit is an “absolute superstar” and it’s just a matter of time before he gets back to his best.
Clarke, never one for mincing words, pointed to Rohit’s stellar run just last season. Remember IPL 2024? Rohit notched up 417 runs, going at a blazing strike rate of 150. If anyone needed a reminder of his class, there was that unbeaten 105 against Chennai Super Kings, sealing a vital win for Mumbai. Clarke’s take is straight-forward: “Class is permanent.” In other words, write off the Mumbai opener at your own risk.
While many are zeroing in on Rohit’s latest slump, Clarke went deeper, suggesting it’s just a phase a quality player has to ride out. “It might be a 40, it might be a 60—he’ll get momentum and then you’ll see the best of Rohit Sharma,” Clark says. The point? Sometimes all it takes is one strong innings for a player of Rohit’s pedigree to regain confidence and rhythm.
Test Future, Fan Expectations, and the Road Ahead
The conversation doesn’t stop at IPL struggles. With India due to tour England soon for an important Test series, fans and experts are already speculating about the squad. Clarke, who’s watched Sharma’s journey from up close, believes the BCCI should keep him in their plans—but maybe with some specific playing conditions. While he wouldn’t elaborate on the ‘conditions’ he hinted at, the message was clear: don’t drop your experienced players after one rough patch.
If you zoom out and look at the data, questions mount over Rohit's consistency in T20 leagues. Despite being one of IPL’s modern icons, he’s only managed to cross 400 runs in a season once over the last nine years, not counting his standout 2024 run. It’s not what everyone expects of a player who’s long carried both MI and India in high-pressure games. Still, Clarke’s vote of confidence could ease some tension inside the Mumbai camp.
All eyes are on Mumbai Indians’ upcoming clash against Delhi Capitals. With Rohit expected back after his minor injury, the pressure doesn’t let up. Teammates, coaches, and fans want to see the old Sharma—cracking open the innings and setting up the game. If Clarke’s read on the game is right, it won’t be long before Rohit fires up, proving once again why even a brief rough patch can’t overshadow years of brilliance in IPL 2025 and beyond.
