[WATCH] Karn Sharma reveals secret story of why Rohit Sharma played IPL 2025 as impact player

During the recent season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, Rohit Sharma played most of the games as the ‘impact player’ for the Mumbai Indians. But few of the fans didn’t take that lightly. They always wanted to see their favorite player engaged in the field and share a few vital tips with the captain, Hardik Pandya. 

The former leg spinner of the Indian side and the current member of the Mumbai Indians (MI) during the IPL 2025, Karn Sharma, revealed that it was the decision of the management to use Rohit as the impact player. On most occasions, he was impacted out of the innings after getting dismissed or stayed in the cool room for half of the innings.

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‘No, this wasn’t the case. First of all, it was the decision of the management. I mean, overall, everyone decided to play Rohit Sharma as an impact player. But then, who would he have replaced as the impact player? Because half of the side is full of all-rounders, and you can’t leave them out of the side. So, it was the management’s decision.’ Karn Sharma expressed during a recent podcast.

Watch: Karn Sharma reveals secret behind Rohit Sharma’s ‘impact player’ inclusion during IPL 2025

The Mumbai batter smashed 418 runs during the recent season of the tournament in 15 innings at an average of just under 30 and a strike rate of 149.28, thanks to four half-centuries at the best score of 81 runs. Overall, he has notched up 7046 runs in 267 innings at a strike rate of 132 with two centuries and 47 fifties.  

Karan Sharma: "It was the management decision to play Rohit Sharma as an impact player."

My hatred for Mumbai Indians is increasing day by day. pic.twitter.com/lWE8hfjn2r

— 𝐉𝐨𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐞 (@jod_insane) July 21, 2025

But whenever he was impacted, on many occasions, he fielded for nearly nine to ten overs. So, whatever impact has come, it was either after the powerplay of the first six overs or the ten overs. So, his inputs were always there, no matter where he stayed. It wasn’t sure if it was his and the management’s collective decision to play as an impact player.’

Rohit, who has already retired from Test cricket and the T20Is, is expected to return for the ODIs during the away series against Australia as he plans to keep himself in shape and full rhythm for the upcoming 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.