Don't understand why Rohit never got a 600-run IPL season: Gautam Gambhir

The former India cricketer and commentator Gautam Gambhir has opened up on Rohit Sharma’s performances in the Indian Premier League. Sharma’s heroics with the bat are known to all. The right-handed batter is considered one of the bests in white-ball cricket.

However, what has left Gambhir perplexed is the fact that Mumbai Indians’ captain hasn’t fetched in a very high-scoring season in IPL yet. Since 2017, Sharma hasn’t crossed the 400-run mark in any IPL season. The former cricketer stated that the batter is an exceptional talent but what amazes him is his run-scoring in IPL.

Though MI has been one of the most successful teams in the IPL, their skipper averages just 27.6 for the franchise. Gambhir shed light on these aspects and asserted that it is out of his understanding how a player of the ability of Rohit doesn’t have a greater impact in IPL.

His approach has been rather timid: Gautam Gambhir

“I don’t understand why he never had that one big IPL season ever. And I have no reason to probably even defend him. He’s a world-class player, I’ve always admired him when he first busted onto the scene in international cricket. I said even then, that he’s the best talent India has ever produced.

And then proved himself in the international stage but it just amazes me that when he wears that MI Jersey, he’s never had a season like what Virat Kohli or KL Rahul had – a 600 run season. And I don’t know why. Someone who’s got so much of the ability to score runs at will doesn’t have that kind of impact in the IPL,” Gambhir said while speaking to ESPNcricinfo.

Rohit Sharma has scored 363 runs in 12 matches so far in IPL 2021 at an average of 30.25. Gambhir feels that whilst batting in the IPL, the batter goes into a shell. He added that with the kind of depth MI has in their batting lineup, the captain should rather score aggressively.

“His approach has been rather timid to be fair, especially during the IPLs. Unlike the way he plays international cricket, he goes into a shell when he plays the IPL. I don’t know why, in fact, if anything, he should have been more aggressive with the kind of team MI have,” Gambhir added.