'Pretend he has Indian blues on' – Michael Vaughan’s hilarious advice to Rohit Sharma

Former England captain Michael Vaughan offered a lighthearted suggestion for Mumbai Indians (MI) opener Rohit Sharma to regain his form in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL). The stalwart batter has struggled to score big in MI’s first two matches against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Gujarat Titans (GT).

The right-handed batter playfully suggested that the veteran might rediscover his touch if he imagines himself wearing the Indian jersey instead of MI’s franchise kit. The 50-year-old also emphasised that MI’s chances of making the playoffs this season will largely depend on Sharma’s return to form.

“He just has to pretend that he has got the Indian blues on and not the Mumbai blues. He is such a good player. For Mumbai to go the distance this year, he has got to get runs. He has got to get his team off to flyers, he has got to get back his confidence, his mojo. I think Mumbai, without Rohit Sharma firing, will not make the qualification (playoffs). He is one of those few players who can win a game on his own,” Vaughan was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

Vaughan highlights Rohit’s need for inner motivation

Furthermore, Vaughan pointed that Rohit Sharma sometimes looks unbothered while on the field by citing his performances during India's tour of Australia in the whites. He also added that to get MI back to the winning ways, channelling his inner motivation will be quite vital for the 'hitman'. This will lead to Sharma becoming his usual dangerous batting which can decimate any opponent on his day.

“Sometimes I watch Rohit, like in the Australia Test series, and he sometimes has that persona that he is not bothered when he is there. I am sure he is not like that. He needs to find that inner motivation. If he can find that, he can be very dangerous,” he further added.

After scoring just 8 runs against GT, falling to a delivery from Mohammed Siraj, and registering a four-ball duck against CSK, the five-time IPL-winning skipper is under pressure to bounce back. MI will face defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on 31st March at Wankhede Stadium, marking their first home game of the season.