Sunil Gavaskar, the former India captain, has advised Rohit Sharma, who currently leads the Mumbai Indians (MI), to take a break in the middle of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Gavaskar suggested that such a move would help Rohit recharge his batteries ahead of the World Test Championship Final against Australia, which is scheduled to be played in early June, shortly after the conclusion of the IPL.
Gavaskar’s words followed a disappointing defeat for the Mumbai Indians at the hands of the Gujarat Titans, who secured a commanding 55-run victory at the Narendra Modi Stadium. As a result, Mumbai slipped to seventh place in the points table and Gujarat climbed to second.
“Rohit Sharma should take a break and keep himself fresh for the World Test Championship,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports. “Come back again for the last few matches, but right now take a breather himself. He is looking slightly preoccupied, maybe he is thinking about the WTC. I think he needs a little bit of a break.”
Despite being five-time champions, the Mumbai Indians have been plagued by inconsistency this year. They have won just three of their seven matches, leaving them four points adrift of Chennai Super Kings, who currently top the table.
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Given Mumbai’s patchy displays, Gavaskar expressed skepticism about their chances of making it to the playoffs. There are as many as four teams on eight points, and Mumbai, who have now lost two in a row, face a battle to claw their way back into the top four.
“Only a miracle can take Mumbai Indians to the playoffs this season,” said Gavaskar. “They will have to play some extraordinary cricket to qualify to the final four.”