'He's trying to do a lot of things' - Virender Sehwag criticises MI star's batting approach ahead of IPL 2023 Qualifier 2

Virender Sehwag (Source: Twitter)

Mumbai Indians advanced to Qualifier 2 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 after a massive 81-run win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Eliminator. MI began their campaign on a low note but gained momentum in the second half of the season and now seems poised to win their sixth IPL title. They must, however, defeat the reigning champions Gujarat Titans (GT) at their stronghold in order to get to the final.

Rohit Sharma and Co will take on Hardik Pandya's team at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday (May 26). The home team will be looking to make a strong return after a disappointing loss to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Qualifier 1 at Chepauk Stadium earlier this week. Although MI are back on track, the former India opener Virender Sehwag has pointed out a big concern for them ahead of the crucial match.

The right-handed batter is not satisfied with the MI skipper's batting approach. Rohit Sharma has not been at his best this season, often getting out early in the innings or failing to convert a good start into a big score. The Indian captain played a blazing 57-run knock in the must-win game against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) but was dismissed cheaply again in the next match against LSG.

"If he waits, shows patience, it will reward him"

Sehwag expressed his displeasure with Rohit's way of batting and insisted he be patient. “I'm not happy with his batting. He's trying to do a lot of things. If you've already scored 30 runs in three overs, just why will you try scoring another 20 in the next over itself?"

"If he stands there, he will keep getting loose balls. What he's doing, is, he's forcibly trying to hits fours and sixes off good deliveries. He's stepping out and getting out. If he waits, shows patience, it will reward him,” the 44-year-old told Cricbuzz.

"The day he scored 57 runs, he wasn't going after the bowlers. Muralitharan says one thing, whether you're a batter or bowler, you need to have patience. So, Rohit needs to show some patience. If you're chasing a 200+ score, that's a different thing. But you're batting first, give yourself time. So, I'm not really happy with his batting right now,” he added.