"I'm Not The Captain"- Rohit Sharma when asked about Mumbai Indians

Veteran opener Rohit Sharma said that he remains committed to guiding Mumbai Indians (MI) to their sixth IPL title despite not being the captain of the team. The 37-year-old, who was removed from captaincy before last season, stated that his primary goal is to help the team secure victory in IPL 2025.

Mumbai Indians were unable to secure an IPL title from 2008 to 2012. However, they emerged as the most successful team between 2013 and 2020. They won five championships in seven seasons, claiming the trophy every alternate year. This dominant era can be credited to Rohit Sharma's leadership.

Rohit Sharma – Most Successful Captain for MI in IPL

Rohit Sharma took over the captaincy from Ricky Ponting midway through the 2013 season. He guided the team to their first trophy in his debut season as skipper. MI became the team to beat, despite their consistent struggles in season openers. Notably, they haven't won their first match in the last 13 seasons.

The franchise has played a crucial role in shaping cricketing superstars like Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav. Their strong scouting system has been a key factor behind their success. Another important aspect of the Mumbai team’s dominance is the relaxed and supportive environment.

A Lot of Things Have Changed - Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma was replaced as captain by Hardik Pandya ahead of IPL 2024. The decision sparked outrage among fans, and MI had a poor performance that season.

In an interview with the Mumbai Indians, Rohit opened up about the changes within the team over the years. He noted that his mindset remained unchanged, adding that the never-give-up attitude is part of the franchise.

"A lot of things have changed, obviously because I used to bat middle order then, now I'm opening the batting. I was captain then, I'm not the captain now. There were a few teammates who I played with and won championships, but they are not there. They are in the coaching role now. So the roles have changed, a lot of things have changed, but the mindset has not changed," Rohit said.

"What I want to do for this team has not changed, which is to go out there and win games. Win trophies, that is what MI is known for. All these years, we've gone and won trophies, won games from a situation that no one ever believed. So that is MI, and that is what Mumbai is known for," he added.

Rohit Sharma Dismissed for a Duck in MI's IPL 2025 Opener

Five-time champions MI suffered a four-wicket defeat against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their IPL 2025 opener. MI managed to post 155 runs, and Rohit Sharma had a disappointing outing, getting dismissed for a four-ball duck.

He did not take the field in the second innings as he was substituted under the Impact Player rule by debutant Vignesh Puthur. The left-arm wrist-spinner impressed with figures of 3 for 32. MI lost their first match for the 13th consecutive year.

Hardik Pandya and his team will take on the Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday.

Also read: Ambati Rayudu speaks for the 1st time after CSK's loss to RCB in IPL 2025