Former Mumbai Indians head coach Mark Boucher has backed Rohit Sharma to deliver a big innings soon, praising the MI veteran’s attacking intent during his brief but impactful knock against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Thursday in IPL 2025.
Having worked closely with Rohit during his coaching stint, Boucher believes the seasoned opener is showing signs of returning to peak form. Despite not yet making a significant impact this season, Rohit’s six-hitting spree against SRH has left Boucher optimistic.
“Rohit Sharma took it upon himself to go after the bowlers,” Boucher said during a post-match segment on JioHotstar. “We saw some good old-fashioned Rohit Sharma sixes – big ones too. I liked his attitude. He put the bowlers under pressure, created scoring opportunities… a big score is coming very soon. He’s looking in that zone again.”
Rohit crossed the 30-run mark before being dismissed, but Boucher insists the manner in which he played is more important than the numbers. “It’s about intent, and Rohit showed plenty of that,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya is beginning to shine in all departments. His quickfire 21 off just 9 balls against Hyderabad, combined with his effective bowling in the middle overs, has drawn praise from both Boucher and former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja.
“Hardik Pandya is one of the best all-rounders in the world,” said Boucher. “He’s picking up crucial wickets and translating that confidence into his batting. He’s finishing games, leading with maturity.”
Jadeja added, “Hardik is a character – always smiling, always giving it his all. He leads from the front, whether it’s with the bat, ball, or in the field. The turning point for MI was the Super Over win against Delhi Capitals. That game may have turned their season around. Tonight was just a bonus.”
With both Rohit and Hardik showing signs of hitting top gear, Mumbai Indians fans will be hoping the duo can propel the team into a strong position in the weeks to come.
