There has been growing speculation about Rohit Sharma’s future with Mumbai Indians (MI) as the cricketing world gears up for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction. Rohit Sharma, who led MI to five IPL titles over a decade, may be parting ways with the franchise ahead of the auction. While the IPL council has not officially announced the auction date or rules, rumors suggest that MI may release Rohit, or that he may make himself available for the auction. Adding fuel to these speculations, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra believes Rohit’s illustrious career with MI might be coming to an end.
Rohit’s relationship with MI has reportedly soured since his removal as captain in December 2024. The franchise replaced him with all-rounder Hardik Pandya, a move that sparked rumors of tension in the MI dressing room. Rohit, despite being the face of MI for years, did not publicly address the leadership change, which further fueled speculation about a potential fallout between him and the team management.
During a recent discussion on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra commented on this brewing uncertainty. He responded to a fan’s question about Rohit’s future with MI, stating that he believes the franchise might release the star player. “Personally, I feel he will not stay. Whoever is retained will be kept with the view that they will remain for three years, unless your name is MS Dhoni. MS Dhoni’s relationship with Chennai Super Kings is unique, but Rohit Sharma’s time with MI might be over,” Chopra said. He went on to suggest that Rohit could be traded to another team or enter the auction pool, ending his journey with MI.
One of the strongest rumors surrounding Rohit’s future points to a possible move to the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). The franchise has been reportedly interested in acquiring the Indian captain. LSG owner Sanjeev Goenka addressed these rumors in a recent interview, admitting that Rohit is on their wishlist. However, Goenka dismissed claims that LSG has reserved a massive INR 50 crores to buy Rohit in the auction, calling the rumors “baseless.”
In the same interview, Goenka explained the complexity of building a team around a star player like Rohit. “Even if Rohit makes himself available for bidding, how will you manage to get the other 22 players if you spend half of your entire budget on one player?” he said, highlighting the financial challenges of such a move to another IPL team.
While the future remains uncertain, Rohit’s potential exit from MI would mark the end of an era for the franchise. Having led the team to five IPL titles, Rohit’s departure would be a significant change for both him and MI. However, if he does join another team, especially LSG, it could bring new opportunities for the star player in the latter stages of his career. As the cricketing world waits for official confirmation from both MI and Rohit, fans are left wondering what the next chapter of Rohit Sharma’s IPL career will hold.