Rohit Sharma set to become the first Mumbai Indians' cricketer to achieve this milestone during SRH vs MI clash

Mumbai Indians (MI) star batter Rohit Sharma is set to create history during their upcoming match in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Rohit Sharma will become the first Mumbai Indians cricketer to achieve a massive landmark in the history of the tournament.

Rohit Sharma showcased exceptional form during the opening IPL 2024 match against the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. The right-handed batsman scored 43 runs from 29 balls during the 169-run chase. However, the MI team suffered a narrow loss in the match.

The Hardik Pandya-led team will face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their upcoming match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Wednesday, March 27. The Mumbai-based franchise hopes to regain its winning momentum in the ongoing IPL tournament.

Rohit Sharma Set To Play 200th Match For Mumbai Indians

The upcoming match against SRH is significant for Rohit Sharma as it marks his 200th appearance for his franchise in the IPL. The 36-year-old led the Mumbai team to five IPL titles during his illustrious career as a captain in the league.

Rohit will join Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni as the third player to make 200 appearances for a single franchise in the marquee event. Kohli played 239 matches for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), while Dhoni represented the Chennai Super Kings in 221 matches.

Rohit Sharma has been a stalwart for the Mumbai Indians since joining the franchise in 2011. He was acquired by the MI team for Rs 9.2 crore in 2011. He has played 199 matches and scored 5,084 runs, including one century and 34 fifties, with a highest score of 109*.

The veteran opener took over the captaincy for MI from Ricky Ponting in 2013, guiding the team to five IPL titles. Last year, all-rounder Hardik Pandya assumed the captain’s role after joining MI from the Gujarat Titans, where he had a title-winning debut season in 2022.

In his early career, Rohit played for the now-defunct Deccan Chargers from 2008 to 2010. He amassed 1,170 runs in 45 matches at an impressive average of 30.79 and a strike rate exceeding 131, notching eight half-centuries in 44 innings with a top score of 76*.

The opening batter’s leadership at MI has been instrumental in shaping the careers of several budding Indian talents, including Ishan Kishan, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya.

They Snatched Defeat From The Jaws Of Victory – Aakash Chopra

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra questioned Mumbai’s batting strategy during their match against the Gujarat Titans. Chopra particularly criticized captain Hardik Pandya’s decision to bat lower down the order, expressing confusion over the move.

“Tell me, how did they lose? They snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. You can say that about Mumbai and you can say about Gujarat that they know how to win from a losing position because they had no business of winning this game. Hardik Pandya, the leader, has to come up the batting order. I didn’t understand why he came so low in the batting order,” Chopra said.

“Mumbai were running away, then how did you lose? Gujarat did not have Hardik Pandya and Mohammed Shami. They also lost the toss and so much dew came later that a kid could swim, but despite that, Mumbai lost the match. I was slightly surprised that Umesh Yadav came to bowl the last over,” he continued.

Also read: Kieron Pollard ditches Rohit Sharma to support Hardik Pandya despite leadership blunders