New Delhi: Rohit Sharma is set to make his highly anticipated return to T20 cricket in IPL 2025, continuing his journey with Mumbai Indians (MI). Ahead of the IPL 2025 mega-auction, MI retained their core squad, ensuring Rohit remained a key part of the team. The veteran batter last played a T20 match in June 2024, following his retirement from T20I cricket after leading India in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Rohit will continue to play under Hardik Pandya at Mumbai Indians. The five-time IPL champions have confirmed that there will be no change in captaincy, with Pandya, who rejoined MI ahead of IPL 2024, set to lead the team once again.
Rohit Sharma set to create history
Rohit Sharma is set to carve his name in the record books and achieve a historic milestone during MI’s second game of IPL 2025. He will become the first Indian cricketer to play 450 T20 matches. So far, the Indian batting great has featured in 448 T20 games.
Rohit made his T20 debut back in April 2007 and was a part of India’s triumphant squad in the inaugural T20 World Cup later that year, playing a crucial role in their success. The veteran is closely followed by Dinesh Karthik, who has played 412 T20s before retiring from Indian cricket.
Rohit was initially part of the Deccan Chargers from IPL 2008 to 2010 before MI acquired him in the IPL 2011 mega-auction. Since then, he has remained an integral part of the franchise. During IPL 2013, he took over the captaincy from Ricky Ponting, leading MI to their maiden title that same season.
| Indian players to play most T20s | Matches played |
| Rohit Sharma | 448 |
| Dinesh Karthik | 412 |
| Virat Kohli | 399 |
| MS Dhoni | 391 |
| Suresh Raina | 336 |
Under Rohit’s leadership, MI dominated the league, securing IPL trophies in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. However, the team struggled to reach the final in the following three seasons, prompting the management to take a bold step.
Ahead of IPL 2024, MI brought back Hardik Pandya from Gujarat Titans via trade and appointed him as the new captain. However, under Hardik’s leadership, MI endured their worst-ever IPL campaign, finishing at the bottom of the points table for the first time in history. As the five-time IPL champions gear up for the new season, they face the tough challenge of reclaiming their dominance.
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