In a thriller PBKS defeated Mumbai Indians to enter IPL final after 11 years. They last played the final in 2014 whey they lost to Kolkata Knight Riders by three wickets. Shreyas Iyer the PBKS captain who single-handedly won the match for his team had not made his IPL debut by then.
MI captain Hardik Pandya has taken the blame for the defeat and accepted his failure in not managing his resources well. A poignant image of Rohit Sharma watching the proceedings from the dug-out is breaking the hearts of Mumbai Indians fans. The man who has won 5 IPL trophies for the franchise is being forced to watch the proceedings from the sidelines.
For most of IPL matches Rohit has played as Impact substitute and has taken the filed for MI only as a batsman. If we look at the match between MI and Punjab yesterday, where MI lost and Hardik admitted to poor player management, it does raise a valid point: Could Rohit Sharma’s presence and leadership have changed the outcome?
Rohit Sharma vs Hardik Pandya (Captaincy Perspective)
- Experience in High Pressure Situations : Rohit Sharma has won 5 IPL titles as captain and has a proven track record of handling pressure, especially in tight chases or when bowlers are leaking runs. This was evident when India won the high pressure T20 World Cup final match against South Africa last year. His field placements, bowling changes, and calmness often make a difference in crunch moments. Though Hardik led Gujarat Titans to a title, he is no match for Rohit Sharma when it comes to situational awareness
- Team Morale : There’s been speculation and media noise that MI’s dressing room harmony has taken a hit since Hardik took over as captain. Let’s be honest — ever since the captaincy switch from Rohit to Hardik, things haven’t felt right in the MI camp. The body language has been off. The smiles are fewer. Players look unsure at times. Even the fans have made their feelings known, booing Hardik more than once
- Reading the Game vs Reacting to It : Great captains don’t just react — they anticipate. That’s one area where Rohit excels. He knows when to hold back a Jasprit Bumrah or when to gamble on a part-time bowler. Yesterday, MI looked like they were reacting too late. Punjab got away with a match that could’ve been closed out with smarter decisions. Hardik admitting that it was his misjudgement tells you that even he knows the calls weren’t right.
So, Would Rohit Have Changed the Result?
Maybe. Probably. Yes.
Of course, cricket doesn’t work on “what ifs.” Even the best captains lose matches. But Rohit’s
presence, his calm mind, sharp tactics and natural leadership – could have tipped the scales in
MI’s favour. Hardik’s willingness to take the blame is a good sign but with MI again not making
the IPL final again fans can’t help but wonder. Was replacing Rohit as captain a mistake?
