Even when sidelined by injury, players can still make a meaningful impact. This was seen during the clash between LSG and MI as Rohit Sharma missed the game due to an injury but his inputs from the sidelines proved invaluable, directly contributing to a crucial breakthrough for Mumbai.
Mumbai skipper Hardik Pandya won the toss and elected to field first on the black soil track at Ekana. However, the decision initially backfired as Lucknow openers Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram powered their way to 69/0 at the end of the powerplay. Mumbai’s breakthrough came in the seventh over, courtesy of rising talent Vignesh Puthur, who dismissed Marsh to break the opening stand. Immediately after the wicket, a strategic timeout was called, and that’s when Rohit Sharma made his presence felt.
Although ruled out of the match due to injury, Rohit walked onto the field during the break and headed straight to Pandya. As other Mumbai players grabbed drinks, the Indian white ball skipper animatedly suggested a change in tactics. Using hand gestures, he advised Pandya to bowl slower deliveries to Nicholas Pooran, anticipating the aggressive southpaw’s intent. Additionally, the suggestion paid immediate dividends. On the fifth delivery of the ninth over, Pandya executed a slower bouncer outside off-stump. Pooran looked to pull and mistimed the shot as the ball took a top edge and flew to short fine leg, where Deepak Chahar made no mistake. The well-planned dismissal, planned by Sharma’s timely input, not only gave Mumbai a crucial wicket but also set social media abuzz.
Brain behind wicket!
captain rohit!
Mumbai Indians were wicketless in powerplay and Rohit Sharma came to the ground during breaks, wicket fell in the very next over 🙏 pic.twitter.com/eUz5I8GAwz
— Dev 🇮🇳 (@time__square) April 4, 2025
Rohit Sharma suggested Hardik use slower balls, and it worked—Pooran got out in Hardik’s next over.
Great leadership! ❤️
pic.twitter.com/WmSPnw2KC3— Rohit Sharma Fans (@HashtagHitman) April 4, 2025
Rohit’s mind!
what do you think!
Hardik Pandya ignored Rohit Sharma ? pic.twitter.com/49bAPGqQ55
— Instagram reels (@GroKnows) April 4, 2025
From then MI got all the wickets on slower balls.
Mastermind Rohit Sharma 🗿🔥pic.twitter.com/ciLaieBFng— Ambani (@Ambaanii) April 4, 2025
Mind behind the wicket!
Rohit sharma!
This is not the same Hardik Pandya whom everyone used to call Chapri. Now Hardik Pandya respects his seniors, understands their words and has also brought maturity in himself. When the team was in trouble, Rohit Sharma was asked what to do, he said to use slow ball and the result… pic.twitter.com/BHzTKGR5KX
— Shivi (@Shivisaysa) April 4, 2025
Mastermind behind the wiclket!
why hardik pandya ignore rohit sharma during timeout break? 🙄 pic.twitter.com/u46HRHFKGE
— mufaddla parody (@mufaddl_parody) April 4, 2025
its peak!
