'Wo IPL me Test Championship ke liye Practice kar rahe' - Fans react as Sunil Gavaskar says Rohit Sharma should 'take break from IPL'

Rohit Sharma & Sunil Gavaskar (Source: Twitter)

Five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) have not had the best campaign in the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL), losing four of their seven matches so far. MI skipper Rohit Sharma is also having a poor outing, scoring just 181 runs with a strike rate of 135.07. As their chances of making the playoffs dwindle, former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar suggested that Rohit should take a break from the IPL and return for the final few matches.

The legendary batter's remark comes a day after the Indian Cricket Board announced a 15-man squad for the much-awaited Test Championship final against Australia, which is set to begin a few days after the IPL. Team India will be led by Rohit Sharma, and Gavaskar feels he should take some time off from the ongoing T20 league and get himself ready for the marquee event.

"Rohit Sharma should take a break and keep himself fresh for the Test Championship. Come back again for the last few matches, but right now take a breather himself. He is looking slightly preoccupied, maybe he is thinking about the WTC. I think he needs a little bit of a break," Gavaskar said on Star Sports.

They will have to play some extraordinary cricket to qualify for playoffs: Gavaskar

On Wednesday, April 25, MI suffered another defeat in the tournament against Gujarat Titans (GT) by 56 runs. The defending champions dominated the encounter and rose to second place in the points table, while MI is seventh. Chasing 208 runs, MI got off to a poor start and they failed to build any partnerships. Another bad day at the office for Rohit, who got out for 2 runs off 8 balls.

Speaking after MI's fourth defeat of the 2023 season, Gavaskar said: "I would like to see some change in the batting order . It's going to be a miracle that's going to make them qualify . The way they are at the moment, yes, they could conceivably finish four, but they will have to play some extraordinary cricket, both batting as well as bowling."

Here's how fans reacted to Gavaskar's statement: 

pic.twitter.com/Jwc4sXCuWa

— 𝗠𝗮𝗮𝘇 𝗞𝗵𝗮𝗻 (@viratified_king) April 26, 2023

Because of too much rests only he became like that with no fitness at all..

— Fountainhead (@RahulKumar_ag) April 26, 2023

😂he should take rest from WTC FINAL too

— Anonymous (@VKCharanFan) April 26, 2023

Why he should take a break he is practising well enough for WTC final 1(10),2(8) man see those knocks

— Teja_Virat_TheRiser🔥🔥 (@TejaPandruvada) April 26, 2023

While playing in ipl itself he is having a breather only. Hardly facing 5 balls per match😂

— vickram (@vickrammachi) April 26, 2023

He is already not making runs how gap will help him... His fitness is big concern.Needs to work on himself first... If taking gap and just sitting and eating it will bad to worse..

— ColtKshatriya (@KshatriyaColt) April 26, 2023

He will take break during wtc final match pic.twitter.com/gjZiz5AaZp

— doggie_buster (@Mc_aloo_tikki) April 26, 2023

Why, he is practicing for test match in MI matches

— Anonymous (@VKCharanFan) April 26, 2023

He should take rest from cricket forever. Can't bat Can't field Can't captain. Just eating a place of youngster in ipl as well as in Indian team.

— 𝐊𝐨𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭!𝟎𝐧_👑🚩 (@bholination) April 26, 2023