Priyanka Tiwari
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In a repeat of past dismissals, Rohit Sharma was bowled early by a left-arm pacer during Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2024 clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. This time, it was Yash Dayal who breached Rohit's defence with a well-angled in-swinger, echoing a similar dismissal by Dilshan Madushanka during the 2023 ODI World Cup against Sri Lanka.
That November afternoon in Wankhede seems to have marked a turning point. Since then, left-arm seamers have consistently exploited this vulnerability, with the India skipper falling to them 12 times in 26 T20 innings — a striking 46 percent dismissal rate.
The Stats Behind the Struggles
Since the start of 2024, Rohit has faced 157 deliveries from left-arm pacers in T20s, scoring 249 runs at a healthy strike rate of over 158, but with a low average of 20.75. His dot ball percentage stands at 44.5%, while boundaries account for 27.38% of his responses to such bowling. In this IPL season alone, he has already fallen twice to left-arm pace in four innings.
Prominent names like Fazalhaq Farooqi, Trent Boult, Shaheen Afridi, Khaleel Ahmed, and Mitchell Starc have all capitalized on this match-up, with Dayal adding his name to the list in MI’s recent game.
A Tactic, Not Coincidence
RCB's strategy to use Yash Dayal early in the innings instead of their regular choice Josh Hazlewood was a calculated decision. Dayal struck in the second over, just after conceding back-to-back boundaries to Rohit. "I'm sure that was the thinking behind that move," said RCB’s Devdutt Padikkal, referencing Rohit’s history with left-arm bowlers.
Technical Breakdown: Where Things Go Wrong
Analysts and coaches suggest that Rohit’s stance and weight distribution might be affecting his ability to counter these deliveries. A leading IPL coach pointed out that Rohit often plants his front foot too early and fails to release his back foot, reducing his ability to adjust to late movement.
"At the point of release, a batter's weight should ideally be on the back foot, with the front foot light," the coach explained. "Rohit's weight stays on both feet, limiting his reaction time."
Support from the MI Camp
Mumbai Indians' Global Head of Performance, Mahela Jayawardene, defended Rohit, noting that such challenges are common. “Yash bowled a good ball. It was late swing and fuller. These angles have been challenging for right-handers historically — Chaminda Vaas and Wasim Akram did the same,” he said. Jayawardene expressed confidence that Rohit is working on it and backed his experience to overcome the issue.
A Big Test Awaits
Mumbai Indians' next fixture is against Delhi Capitals on April 13 — where Mitchell Starc, another quality left-arm pacer, could pose yet another challenge for Rohit. As the trend continues, addressing this pattern could be key to MI’s revival this IPL season.
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