The Mumbai Indians got back on track with a heart-pounding 12-run victory over the Delhi Capitals in their IPL 2025 match on Sunday. Karn Sharma played a key role in this win, taking three crucial wickets in the middle overs. The Delhi team’s chase fell apart thanks to three run-outs, which pretty much sealed the deal with just one over left to play. A lot of people are saying that Karn’s wickets were the turning point of the match.
Former MI captain Rohit Sharma was also in the spotlight as the one who suggested bringing Karn into the game at a critical moment. But not everyone was thrilled about this. Ex-India players Sanjay Manjrekar and Sanjay Bangar felt it was unfair to focus on Rohit for the tactical switch instead of making sure Hardik Pandya, the current captain, got his due credit. Star Sports even chimed in, showering Rohit with praise for instructing the team to put Karn in as an Impact Player.
The situation seemed to unfold when Rohit, who was on the bench for this match, had been chatting with bowling coach Paras Mhambrey. After that conversation, he passed the idea along to head coach Mahela Jayawardene, who in turn told Hardik to make the change. It turned into an exciting match, and while social media buzzed about Rohit’s smart move, there was some tension from the commentators, who weren’t entirely happy.
Sanjay Bangar made a strong point saying, “Yes, Rohit played a part in the victory, but the spotlight should really be on Karn Sharma and Hardik Pandya. Karn is the one who executed the plan, and Hardik was the guy giving the orders.” Bangar stressed that while it’s great to have suggestions from experienced players, the ultimate decision lies with the captain on the field.
He continued, “Of course, Hardik listened to Rohit’s advice, and that’s a big deal. But if we’re going to credit Rohit and leave Hardik out of it, that just feels wrong. If things hadn’t gone well, you would’ve blamed Hardik for not listening to the suggestion. It’s too easy to be an armchair critic. Hardik deserves the whole credit for this victory. Given how much this win meant to him, especially after some tough games, it’s important we recognize that.”
On the field, Rohit didn’t make a huge impact with the bat against Delhi, but he certainly looked engaged as a strategist from the sidelines. During strategic timeouts, he was often seen chatting with coach Jayawardene, sharing his thoughts on how the game was going. While it’s clear that Rohit has a lot of tactical knowledge to offer, it’s equally important to acknowledge the captain’s role. Hardik is the one in charge, and he’s the one making the calls, no matter who’s giving him pointers. Balancing their contributions is crucial because both have a hand in the team’s success.
