On September 19, the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 will commence its second leg in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Due to escalating COVID cases in India and various team bubbles, the top T20 event was cut short in the middle of May. Mumbai Indians (MI), the defending champions, are presently fourth in the rankings with four victories and three losses. The Rohit Sharma-led team will be adamant in their pursuit of a third consecutive crown.
Meanwhile, former India wicketkeeper Saba Karim believes that in the next second round of the IPL 2021, the MI captain must succeed with the bat. Sharma also has to improve his batting performance in the IPL and translate his brilliant international form to the T20 event, according to him.
Karim remarked in an interview with YouTube channel Khelneeti that The Hitmann needs to enhance his batting because he is the team’s most important batsman. He also stated that the team lead by Sharma may be “winning trophies” because the team has multiple match winners and the batsman’s role is underappreciated.
Karim emphasised the importance of Team India’s swashbuckling opener, saying that his “most crucial function is that of a batsman,” which he should fulfil first. Sharma’s record/performance, according to the former India international, is a “peculiar situation,” as he fails to translate his great international cricket form to the showpiece T20 game.
Furthermore, the former cricketer stated that players often feel the weight of captaincy, which has an impact on their batting, and that a “captain should possess” clarity before donning the batting gloves.
In the interview, he went on to say that leading a squad for a long time can sometimes throw off one’s “preparations and attitude.”
Karim did add, though, that he expects Sharma’s batting form to improve, before sarcastically stating that it won’t happen against the Delhi Capitals. In May of this year, the former wicketkeeper-batsman was named the franchise’s head of talent search in Delhi.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, September 19, the five-time IPL winners MI will continue their championship defence against previous champions Chennai Super Kings.