The IPL has now picked up pace after a relatively slow start to proceedings. In the last few days we’ve had incomparable heists, a failed attempt to run-out at the non-striker end, and a whole lot of last-ball finishes, making the IPL, the tournament it was known for. While some teams have begun well this season, other teams have been struggling and are unable to put the level of performance required to win matches.
While players need to shoulder a certain amount of responsibility, it is the captains that have to take major chunks of the blame for their teams not performing up to the mark. The skipper is generally expected to lead from the front.
IPL 2023: With that, we’ll have a look at the 3 captains who seemed to have lost their prowess and need replacing to steady the ship-
Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma is IPL royalty. He is the most successful captain as well as the most decorated player in IPL history with and 6 titles respectively. But over the past few years it seems like time and the rest of the chasing pack is catching up to him. The once cool customer on the field has shown signs of being frazzled in crucial junctures repeatedly. Under his captaincy they finished at the bottom of the points table in 2022, something that had never happened with MI before.
That has had a knock on effect on his batting which seems to be regressing in the IPL with every single year. One could also say that after having won everything there is to win on a franchise level, you could think that Rohit has perhaps lost his appetite to win, which is natural, but nevertheless a problem. Maybe it is best for MI if they search a new captain at the earliest.
IPL 2023 Or Team India; What Does Rohit Sharma Focus On!?
Suryakumar Yada did captain the side once in the absence of Rohit Sharma this season. But is this a thing for the long-run!? With the Mumbai Indians currently at 7th place, there might be some serious thought put into it!! Maybe it is time for Rohit Sharma to focus on the Indian team and hand over the mantle of the MI captaincy to a new upcoming star or an already experienced veteran in the team!!
2. David Warner
David Warner seems to be struggling not only with the bat, but also as captain. The hard-hitting Aussie was one of the most dominant players in the IPL in his prime, making runs and scoring boundaries for fun. He also led the Sunrisers to their maiden IPL title. But in his latest sojourn in captaincy, Warner has been seen to mightily struggle to get out the best of a pretty talented Delhi Capitals.
And all that is adversely affecting his batting as well. While he has 3 fifties in 4 innings, all of them have come at a very pedestrian strike rate. Another point of contention is that Warner is not exactly captaincy material, with a comparatively meagre 50% win rate suggesting that the Capitals could do with a much better leader.
Now, there is a reason why SRH had its differences with the Australian opener. And though he does seem to be a real gentleman on and off the pitch, the fact that the team from the capital are at the bottom of the IPL points table, doesn’t help his case yet again. The balance of this team is really not right and things need to change.
3. KL Rahul
KL Rahul is not having a good year so far is an understatement. The man is living every batsman’s worst nightmare. And that puts him in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Even in the IPL, where he is one of the most reliable batsmen in the tournament, Rahul has just not been able to get the runs he so desperately needs. And being captain at the same time does not really help.
Even if we put his run scoring woes aside, Rahul has just not been a good captain compared to others. Ever since he became captain in the IPL, his team has made the playoffs only one time, and even there they exited with a whimper, without making much of a noise. Hard decisions need to be taken as far as KL Rahul the captain as well as batsman is concerned.
The loss to the Gujarat Titans really broke the Lucknow fanbase. They could not believe what they had witnessed. The home side needed 30 off 33 balls and lost. The team was tagged CHOKERS on Social Media!! This was something that previously wasn’t associated with Lucknow.
But, as many continue to feel, KL Rahul’s individual scores keep pilling and he is the most renowned stat-padder in the League at present!! And that is exactly not what a team wants from their skipper. Not just in T20s, but in any format of the game. At the end of the day, who plays a maiden over to start the batting in almost every other game!?
With that being said, the likes of Pooran and co. are still contenders to take charge. That is if the need does arise. KL Rahul has been a failure as a skipper with the Indian team as well. It’s best that he is allowed to be a better batsman (for T20s), who can focus on his run-getting pace. And leave the other decisions to his team-mates!! Before he ends up going down the road that Virat Kohli eventually did as a skipper!!
jinnie white
11 May 2023It’s interesting to see the discussion around Rohit Sharma’s captaincy in the IPL. While he has been a highly successful captain in the past, recent performances and the team’s struggles raise questions about his leadership. It might be worth considering a new captain to bring a fresh perspective and rejuvenate the Mumbai Indians team
jinnie white
11 May 2023This blog provides valuable insights into the distinctions between fantasy cricket and actual team management in the IPL. It’s crucial to understand the differences in strategies and objectives, whether using a fantasy cricket team generator or managing a real team, to make informed decisions and enhance the overall gaming experience.