As you close your eyes, picture a memorable T20 performance by Rohit Sharma. Chances are, you’ll recall powerful sixes pulled effortlessly, pick-up shots sent soaring behind square on the leg side, and slogs over deep midwicket. However, in Jaipur, Rohit surprised us with a different approach. Despite a sluggish start to IPL 2025, he managed to reach his third score of 50 or more in a season. This time, he opted out of his signature shots and left us questioning if it was truly Rohit on the field.
Rohit’s knock of 53 off 36 was the second-highest score of this IPL without a single six. This was only the third instance out of his 89 T20 scores of 50 or more that he didn’t hit a six. It wasn’t just about which boundaries he chose, but also where he aimed to hit them. He scored 59.5% of his runs on the off side, which is the fifth-highest for his half-centuries since 2015. In his other two half-centuries this year, he scored 42.1% and 32.4%, respectively, on the off side.
The match conditions and the opposing bowling team’s strategy prompted the response. Despite the flat pitch in Jaipur, there was not as much bounce as in other locations. The Rajasthan Royals (RR) targeted the stumps, tempting the batsman to use a cross bat – a risky shot on this type of pitch. Due to the lack of bounce, it was unlikely for any top edges to sail over the shorter boundaries behind square. It is worth noting that Jaipur’s boundaries are slightly larger compared to other venues.
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After initially dismissing the hook and slog as low-percentage shots, Rohit chose not to attempt them when faced with Jofra Archer’s short delivery and two fielders strategically positioned for the hook. Instead, Rohit opted to create space and hit towards the off side.
In spite of the large boundaries, the fast outfield proved to be advantageous for hitting beyond the inner field. As a result, Rohit delivered an atypical performance, avoiding his usual preferred areas at square-leg and fine-leg, and instead focusing on cover and mid-off. Overall, he accumulated 32 runs on the off side.
Currently, Rohit’s involvement in T20 cricket has decreased. However, his previous appearance in the format was quite impressive as he played a crucial role in India’s victory at the T20 World Cup against Australia and England. Although Rohit has been performing well in ODIs and had a decent record in his last T20 matches, his recent performance in the IPL has left everyone perplexed. Despite receiving only one Player-of-the-Match award in the past five editions of the IPL, which typically favor batters, his form has consistently been underwhelming regardless of how he performs on the international stage or in other formats.
Unfortunately, the trend seemed to persist in the 2025 IPL when he fell short of 20 runs in his first five matches. However, he managed to reverse it with his usual ferocity, notching back-to-back scores of 70. Even in Jaipur, he proved that he was capable of playing a contrasting style without compromising the strike rate too significantly. This certainly does not bode well for bowlers.
