Manoj Tiwary Slams Mumbai Indians’ Treatment of Rohit Sharma, Predicts New Captain
The Eden Gardens Clash: Mumbai Indians Struggle in the Rain
The tactical debate surrounding the Mumbai Indians (MI) intensified following a damp and rain-affected encounter at the Eden Gardens. After Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and elected to bowl first, the MI batting lineup crumbled under pressure on a challenging pitch.
The KKR bowlers made the most of the favorable conditions right from the start. Cameron Green struck early, dismissing both Ryan Rickelton and Naman Dhir in the third over of the innings. Left-arm seamer Saurabh Dubey added to MI’s woes by removing the high-profile duo of Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav within the powerplay, leaving Mumbai reeling at 46/4.
The middle order failed to inject any momentum into the innings. Tilak Varma struggled for timing, laboring to 20 runs off 32 deliveries before falling to Kartik Tyagi. Hardik Pandya was kept under tight wraps by Sunil Narine, who delivered an exceptionally economical spell of 4 overs for just 13 runs, while also claiming the crucial wicket of the MI captain for 26 runs off 27 balls. It took an unbeaten 32-run cameo from Corbin Bosch to guide Mumbai Indians to a fighting total of 147.
In response, Mumbai’s bowlers also relished the surface, starting with Test-match-style fields. Deepak Chahar struck on his very first over by dismissing Finn Allen. However, veteran batsman Manish Pandey, playing his first game of the season at No. 3, anchored the chase. Pandey weathered the initial storm, putting together a crucial 38-run partnership with Rahane. Although Bosch returned to dismiss both Rahane and Cameron Green in quick succession, Pandey found an able partner in Rovman Powell.
The duo stitched together a decisive 64-run partnership before Jasprit Bumrah finally dismissed Pandey for a well-made 45 off 33 balls, an effort that earned him the Player of the Match award. Powell, Tejasvi Dahiya, and Rinku Singh then calmly guided KKR over the finish line.
Tiwary Questions Rohit Sharma’s ‘Impact Player’ Role
Speaking to Cricbuzz after the match, Manoj Tiwary expressed deep frustration over how Mumbai Indians have utilized Rohit Sharma this season. Ever since Rohit was replaced by Hardik Pandya as captain ahead of the IPL 2024 season, MI has frequently used the veteran opener as an Impact Player, substituting him out of the field during the second innings.
Tiwary argued that keeping a player of Rohit’s experience and tactical caliber in the dugout is a massive waste of resources, especially when the team is struggling with on-field execution and captaincy decisions.
“MI are keeping the wrong players in the wrong position on the field for fielding. Today, we saw Corbin Bosch at slip dropping a catch, then, before that, Naman Dhir also dropped one against PBKS. I keep coming back to the same point. When you have an experienced player like Rohit Sharma in your camp, who has been captain, then you don’t have to worry about the slip region. Rohit can catch those, right?” Tiwary questioned.
He further added that Rohit’s presence on the field could serve as an invaluable asset to the current captain. “If Hardik needs help in captaincy, then he can do that as well. So, why is he not being utilised? Why do you make Rohit Sharma sit in the dugout? I am unable to understand that,” he said.
The Legacy of a Legend Under Threat
The transition of power at Mumbai Indians has been far from smooth. Under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, the franchise won all five of its IPL titles. However, the team’s fortunes have plummeted in recent times. After finishing 10th in 2024, MI managed to make the playoffs in 2025, but this season they find themselves on track for another bottom-two finish.
Tiwary believes that the current management’s decisions are actively damaging the legacy that Rohit built over a decade of leadership.
“Rohit Sharma is watching his legacy crumble before his own eyes over the last three years, and that is reflected through his expressions as well from the dugout. He knows that if I had been there, I would not have made that decision. Even back then, I had said that removing him was the wrong call, and you can see the results now,” Tiwary pointed out.
Prediction: A New Captain on the Horizon
With only one playoff appearance in the last three years, Tiwary expects the franchise to make drastic changes ahead of the next cycle. He confidently predicted that Mumbai Indians will look to move past the Hardik Pandya captaincy era very soon.
“They have just qualified once in the last 3 years. So, I am 200 percent sure that we will see a new captain next season, whether it be Surya or Bumrah,” Tiwary concluded.
