IPL 2017: 5 reasons why Rohit Sharma should open the innings for Mumbai Indians
The two-time champions Mumbai Indians went down in a close encounter against Rising Pune Supergiant in the first game but made a terrific comeback and achieved back to back emphatic victories against Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
They have done well in both departments of the game yet they have a big concern as their skipper Rohit Sharma is struggling for form. He has managed scores of just 3, 2 and 4 in three innings respectively.
The Mumbai batsman has batted twice at number three and once at number four. His form is extremely crucial for his team and he is better off opening the innings rather than batting in the middle order.
Here are the 5 reasons why he should bat at the top of the order:
#1 Best batsman of the team
There is absolutely no doubt about the class that the 29-year-old possesses and is certainly the best batsman in the side by far. Mumbai has a decent batting line-up that consists of several power-hitters but none of them matches the mettle of Rohit.
He, being the most prolific run-getter for the franchise, needs to face as many deliveries as possible and that can happen only if he opens the innings.
From 2011 till date, he has played 109 matches for MI in which he has scored 2986 runs at an average of 33.93 and a strike rate of 131.13, which is astonishing in the shortest format of the game. He has a century and 22 fifties in his account and for a batsman with such a record needs to face the maximum number of deliveries in an innings.