Rohit Sharma, the captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI), recently put an end to the rumors surrounding his potential rest during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season. The question had been a hot topic among cricket enthusiasts, given the recent injuries to key Indian players such as Jasprit Bumrah and Shreyas Iyer, and the upcoming World Cup later this year.
In a press conference, Sharma gave a hint that taking a break during the IPL could be a possibility, stating, “In terms of me resting, I think Mark (Boucher) will give you an answer to that.” Mumbai Indians coach Mark Boucher responded, “In regards to resting Rohit, he is the captain. Hopefully he gets into some good sort of form and I hope he doesn’t want to rest. But yeah, we all adapt to different situations. If I can get the best out of him as a captain and player, that will be great. If it means he wants to rest 1 or 2 games, then I will do that. Absolutely, no problem.”
The Indian cricket team has been dealing with a number of injuries, and Sharma himself has been no exception. Since taking over as India’s full-time captain in January 2022, Sharma has suffered calf and hamstring injuries, as well as contracting COVID-19 and requiring stitches on his thumb. These setbacks have raised concerns about the health and fitness of key Indian players ahead of the much-anticipated World Cup.
With a busy schedule leading up to the World Cup, including several home and away bilateral series and the Asia Cup, workload management has become a crucial factor for the Indian team. As such, the possibility of Sharma taking a break during the IPL to ensure his readiness for the World Cup has garnered attention and sparked debate among fans and analysts alike.
As the IPL 2023 season unfolds, all eyes will be on Sharma and his teammates as they balance the demands of the league and their preparation for the World Cup.